Visual prosthesis with operational data telemetry

ABSTRACT

The objective of the current invention is to restore color vision, in whole or in part, by electrically stimulating undamaged retinal cells, which remain in patients with, lost or degraded visual function. The invention is a retinal color prosthesis. Functionally, There are three main parts to this invention. One is external to the eye. The second part is internal to the eye. The third part is means for communication between those two parts. The external part has subsystems. These include an external imaging means, an eye-tracker, a head-motion tracker, a data processor, a patient&#39;s controller, a physician&#39;s local controller, a physician&#39;s remote controller, and a telemetry means. The imaging means may include a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers an image of what the eyes would be seeing if they were functional.  
     Color information is acquired by the imaging means. The color data is processed in the video data processing unit. The color information is encoded by time sequences of pulses separated by varying amounts of time, and also with the pulse duration being varied in time. The basis for the color encoding is the individual color code reference. Direct color stimulation is another operational basis for providing color perception. The electrodes stimulate the target cells so as to create a color image for the patient, corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, or other imaging means.  
     The physician&#39;s test unit can be used to set up or evaluate and test the implant during or soon after implantation at the patient&#39;s bedside.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/125,873, filed Mar. 24, 1999.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to electrical stimulation of theretina to produce artificial images for the brain. It relates toelectronic image stabilization techniques based on tracking themovements of the eye. It relates to telemetry in and out of the eye foruses such as remote diagnostics and recording from the retinal surface.

[0003] The present invention also relates to electrical stimulation ofthe retina to produce phosphenes and to produce induced color vision.The present invention relates to hermetically sealed electronic andelectrode units which are safe to implant in the eye.

BACKGROUND

[0004] Color perception is part of the fabric of human experience. Homer(c. 1100 b.c.) writes of “the rosy-fingered dawn”. Lady Murasaki noShikibu (c. 1000 a.d.) uses word colors (“purple, yellow shimmer ofdresses, blue paper”) in the world's first novel. In the earlynineteenth century Thomas Young, an English physician, proposed atrichromatic theory of color vision, based on the action of threedifferent retinal receptors. Fifty years later James Clerk Maxwell, theBritish physicist and Hermann von Helmholtz, the German physiologist,independently showed that all of the colors we see could be made up fromthree suitable spectral color lights. In 1964 Edward MacNichol andcolleagues at Johns Hopkins and George Wald at Harvard measured theabsorption by the visual pigments in cones, which are the color receptorcells. Rods are another type of photoreceptor cell in the primateretina. These cells are more sensitive to dimmer light but are notdirectly involved in color perception. The individual cones have one ofthree types of visual pigment. The first is most sensitive to shortwaves, like blue. The second pigment is most sensitive to middlewavelengths, like green. The third pigment is most sensitive to longerwavelengths, like red.

[0005] The retina can be thought of a big flower on a stalk where thetop of that stalk is bent over so that the back of the flower faces thesun. In place of the sun, think of the external light focused by thelens of the eye onto the back of the flower. The cones and rods cellsare on the front of the flower; they get the light that has passedthrough from the back of the somewhat transparent flower. Thephotoreceptor nerve cells are connected by synapses to bipolar nervecells, which are then connected to the ganglion nerve cells. Theganglion nerve cells connect to the optic nerve fibers, which is the“stalk” that carries the information generated in the retina to thebrain. Another type of retinal nerve cell, the horizontal cell,facilitates the transfer of information horizontally across bipolarcells. Similarly, another type of cell, the amacrine facilitates thehorizontal transfer of information across the ganglion cells. Theinteractions among the retinal cells can be quite complex. On-center andoff-center bipolar cells can be stimulated at the same time by the samecone transmitter release to depolarize and hyperpolarize, respectively.A particular cell's receptive field is that part of the retina, whichwhen stimulated, will result in that cell's stimulation. Thus, mostganglion cells would have a larger receptive field than most bipolarcells. Where the response to the direct light on the center of aganglion cells receptive field is antagonized by direct light on thesurround of its receptive field, the effect is called center-surroundantagonism. This phenomenon is important for detecting bordersindependent of the level of illumination. The existence of thismechanism for sharpening contrast was first suggested by the physicistErnst Mach in the late 1800's. More detailed theories of color visionincorporate color opponent cells. On the cone level, trichromaticactivity of the cone cells occurs. At the bipolar cell level, green-redopponent and blue-yellow opponent processing systems of thecenter-surround type, occur. For example, a cell with a green respondingcenter would have an annular surround area, which responded in aninhibiting way to red. Similarly there can be red-center responding,green-surround inhibiting response. The other combinations involve blueand yellow in an analogous manner.

[0006] It is widely known that Galvani, around 1780, stimulated nerveand muscle response electrically by applying a voltage on a dead frog'snerve. Less well known is that in 1755 LeRoy discharged a Leyden jar,i.e., a capacitor, through the eye of a man who had been blinded by thegrowth of a cataract. The patient saw “flames passing rapidly downward.”

[0007] In 1958, Tassicker was issued a patent for a retinal prostheticutilizing photosensitive material to be implanted subretinally. In thecase of damage to retinal photoreceptor cells that affected vision, theidea was to electrically stimulate undamaged retinal cells. Thephotosensitive material would convert the incoming light into anelectrical current, which would stimulate nearby undamaged cells. Thiswould result in some kind of replacement of the vision lost. Tassickerreports an actual trial of his device in a human eye. (U.S. Pat. No.2,760,483).

[0008] Subsequently, Michelson (U.S. Pat. No. 4, 628,933), Chow (U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,016,633; 5,397,350; 5,556,423), and De Juan (U.S. Pat. No.5,109,844) all were issued patents relating to a device for stimulatingundamaged retinal cells. Chow and Michelson made use of photodiodes andelectrodes. The photodiode was excited by incoming photons and produceda current at the electrode.

[0009] Normann et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,088) discloses longelectrodes 1000 to 1500 microns long designed to be implanted into thebrain cortex. These spire-shaped electrodes were formed of asemiconductor material.

[0010] Najafi, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5314458), disclosed an implantablesilicon-substrate based microstimulator with an external device whichcould send power and signal to the implanted unit by RF means. Theincoming RF signal could be decoded and the incoming RF power could berectified and used to run the electronics.

[0011] Difficulties can arise if the photoreceptors, the electronics,and the electrodes all tend to be mounted at one place. One issue is theavailability of sufficient area to accomodate all of the devices, andanother issue is the amount of power dissipation near the sensitiveretinal cells. Since these devices are designed to be implanted into theeye, this potential overheating effect is a serious consideration.

[0012] Since these devices are implants in the eye, a serious problem ishow to hermetically seal these implanted units. Of further concern isthe optimal shape for the electrodes and for the insulators, whichsurround them. In one embodiment there is a definite need that theretinal device and its electrodes conform to the shape of the retinalcurvature and at the same time do not damage the retinal cells ormembranes.

[0013] The length and structure of electrodes must be suitable forapplication to the retina, which averages about 200 microns inthickness. Based on this average retinal thickness of 200 microns,elongated electrodes in the range of 100 to 500 microns appear to besuitable. These elongated electrodes reach toward the cells to beactivated. Being closer to the targeted cell, they require less currentto activate it.

[0014] In order not to damage the eye tissue there is a need to maintainan average charge neutrality and to avoid introducing toxic or damagingeffects from the prosthesis.

[0015] A desirable property of a retinal prosthetic system is making itpossible for a physician to make adjustments on an on-going basis fromoutside the eye. One way of doing this would have a physician's controlunit, which would enable the physician to make adjustments and monitorthe eye condition. An additional advantageous feature would enable thephysician to preform these functions at a remote location at a remotelocation, e.g., from his office. This would allow one physician toremotely monitor a number of patients remotely without the necessity ofthe patient coming to the office. A patient could be travellingdistantly and obtain physician monitoring and control of the retinalcolor prosthetic parameters.

[0016] Another version of the physician's control unit is a hand-held,palm-size unit. This unit will have some, but not all of thefunctionality of the physician's control unit. It is for the physicianto carry on his rounds at the hospital, for example, to check onpost-operative retinal-prosthesis implant patients. Its extremeportability makes other situational uses possible, too, as a practicalmatter.

[0017] The patient will want to control certain aspects of the visualimage from the retinal prosthesis system, in particular, imagebrightness. Consequently, a patient controller, performing fewerfunctions than the physician's controller is included as part of theretinal prosthetic system. It will control, at a minimum, bright image,and it will control this image brightness in a continuous fashion. Theimage brightness may be increased or decreased by the patient at anytime, under normal circumstances.

[0018] A system of these components would itself constitute part of avisual prosthetic to form images in real time within the eye of a personwith a damaged retina. In the process of giving back sight to those whoare unable to see, it would be advantageous to supply artificial colorsin this process of reconstructing sight so that the patient would beable to enjoy a much filler version of the visual world.

[0019] In dealing with externally mounted or externally placed means forcapturing image and transmitting it by electronic means or other intothe eye, one must deal with the problem of stabilization of the image.For example, a head-mounted camera would not follow the eye movement. Itis desirable to track the eye movements relative to the head and usethis as a method or approach to solving the image stabilization problem.

[0020] By having a method and apparatus for the physician and thetechnician to initially set up and measure the internal activities andadjust these, the patient's needs can be better accommodated. Theopportunity exists to measure internal activity and to allow thephysician, using his judgement, to adjust settings and controls on theelectrodes. Even the individual electrodes would be adjusted by way ofthe electronics controlling them. By having this done remotely, byremote means either by telephone or by the Internet or other such, it isclear that a physician would have the capability to intervene and makeadjustment as necessary in a convenient and inexpensive fashion, toserve many patients.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0021] The objective of the current invention is to restore colorvision, in whole or in part, by electrically stimulating undamagedretinal cells, which remain in patients with lost or degraded visualfunction arising, for example, from Retinitis Pigmentosa or Age-RelatedMacular Degeneration. This invention is directed toward patients whohave been blinded by degeneration of photoreceptors; but who havesufficient bipolar cells, or other cells acting similarly, to permitelectrical stimulation.

[0022] There are three main functional parts to this invention. One isexternal to the eye. The second part is internal to the eye. The thirdpart is the communication circuitry for communicating between those twoparts. Structurally there are two parts. One part is external to the eyeand the other part is implanted internal to the eye. Each of thesestructural parts contains two way communication circuitry forcommunication between the internal and external parts.

[0023] The structural external part is composed of a number ofsubsystems. These subsystems include an external imager, an eye-motioncompensation system, a head motion compensation system, a video dataprocessing unit, a patient's controller, a physician's local controller,a physician's remote controller, and a telemetry unit. The imager is avideo camera such as a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers an imageapproximating what the eyes would be seeing if they were functional.

[0024] The imager sends an image in the form of electrical signals tothe video data processing unit. In one aspect, this unit formats agrid-like or pixel-like pattern that is then ultimately sent toelectronic circuitry (part of the internal part) within the eye, whichdrives the electrodes. These electrodes are inside the eye. Theyreplicate the incoming pattern in a useable form for stimulation of theretina so as to reproduce a facsimile of the external scene. In an otheraspect of this invention other formats other than a grid-like or pixellike pattern are used, for example a line by line scan in some order, ora random but known order, point-by-point scan. Almost any one-to-onemapping between the acquired image and the electrode array is suitable,as long as the brain interprets the image correctly.

[0025] The imager acquires color information. The color data isprocessed in the video data processing unit. The video data processingunit consists of microprocessor CPU's and associated processing chipsincluding high-speed data signal processing (DSP) chips.

[0026] In one aspect, the color information is encoded by time sequencesof pulses separated by varying amounts of time; and, the pulse durationmay be different for various pulses. The basis for the color encoding isthe individual color code reference (FIG. 2a). The electrodes stimulatethe target cells so as to create a color image for the patient,corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, orother imaging means.

[0027] Color information, in an alternative aspect, is sent from thevideo data processing unit to the electrode array, where each electrodehas been determined to stimulate preferentially one of the bipolar celltypes, namely, red-center green-surround, green-center-red-surround,blue-center-yellow-surround, or yellow-center-blue-surround.

[0028] An eye-motion compensation system is an aspect of this invention.The eye tracker is based on detection of eye motion from the cornealreflex or from implanted coils of wire, or, more generally, insulatedconductive coils, on the eye or from the measurement of electricalactivity of extra-ocular muscles. Communication is provided between theeye tracker and the video data processing unit by electromagnetic oracoustical telemetry. In one embodiment of the invention,electromagnetic-based telemetry may be used. The results of detectingthe eye movement are transmitted to a video data processing unit,together with the information from the camera means. Another aspect ofthe invention utilizes a head motion sensor and head motion compensationsystem. The video data processing unit can incorporate the data of themotion of the eye as well as that of the head to further adjust theimage electronically so as to account for eye motion and head motion.

[0029] The internal structural part, which is implanted internallywithin the eye, is also composed of a number of subsystems. These can becategorized as electronic circuits and electrode arrays, andcommunication subsystems, which may include electronic circuits. Thecircuits, the communication subsystems, and the arrays can behermetically sealed and they can be attached one to the other byinsulated wires. The electrode arrays and the electronic circuits can beon one substrate, or they may be on separate substrates joined by aninsulated wire or by a plurality of insulated wires. This is similarlythe case for a communication subsystem.

[0030] A plurality of predominately electronic substrate units and aplurality of predominately electrode units may be implanted or locatedwithin the eye as desired or as necessary. The electrodes are designedso that they and the electrode insulation conform to the retinalcurvature. The variety of electrode arrays include recessed electrodesso that the electrode array surface coming in contact with the retinalmembrane or with the retinal cells is the non-metallic, more inertinsulator.

[0031] Another aspect of the invention is the elongated electrode, whichis designed to stimulate deeper retinal cells by penetrating into theretina by virtue of the length of its electrodes. A plurality ofelectrodes is used. The elongated electrodes are of lengths from 100microns to 500 microns. With these lengths, the electrode tips can reachthrough those retinal cells not of interest but closer to the targetstimulation cells, the bipolar cells. The number of electrodes may rangefrom 100 on up to 10,000 or more. With the development of electrodefabrication technology, the number of electrodes might rage up to onemillion or more.

[0032] Another aspect of the invention uses a plurality of capacitiveelectrodes to stimulate the retina, in place of non-capacitiveelectrodes. Another aspect of the invention is the use of a neurotrophicfactor, for example, Nerve Growth Factor, applied to the electrodes, orto the vicinity of the electrodes, to aid in attracting target nervesand other nerves to grow toward the electrodes.

[0033] Hermetic sealing is accomplished by coating the object to besealed with a substance selected from the group consisting of siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide incombination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminumoxide, zirconium oxide. This hermetic sealing aspect of the inventionprovides an advantageous alternative to glass coverings for hermeticseals, being less likely to become damaged.

[0034] Another feature of one aspect of the structuralinternal-to-the-eye subsystems is that the electronics receive andtransmit information in coded or pulse form via electromagnetic waves.In the case where electromagnetic waves are used, theinternal-to-the-eye-implanted electronics can rectify the RF, orelectromagnetic wave, current and decode it. The power being sent inthrough the receiving coil is extracted and used to drive theelectronics. In some instances, the implanted electronics acquire datafrom the electrode units to transmit out to the video data processingunit.

[0035] In another aspect the information coding is done with ultrasonicsound. An ultrasonic transducer replaces the electromagnetic wavereceiving coil inside the eye. An ultrasonic transducer replaces thecoil outside the eye for the ultrasonic case. By piezoelectric effects,the sound vibration is turned into electrical current, and energyextracted therefrom.

[0036] In another aspect of the invention, information is encoded bymodulating light. For the light modulation case, a light emitting diode(LED) or laser diode or other light generator, capable of beingmodulated, acts as the information transmitter. Information istransferred serially by modulating the light beam, and energy isextracted from the light signal after it is converted to electricity. Aphoto-detector, such as a photodiode, which turns the modulated lightsignal into a modulated electrical signal, is used as a receiver.

[0037] Another aspect of the structural internal-to-the-eye subsystemsof this invention is that the predominately electrode array substrateunit and the predominately electronic substrate unit, which are joinedby insulated wires, can be placed near each other or in differentpositions. For example, the electrode array substrate unit can be placedsubretinally and the electronic substrate unit placed epiretinally. On afurther aspect of this invention, the electronic substrate unit can beplaced distant from the retina so as to avoid generating additional heator decreasing the amount of heat generated near the retinal nervesystem. For example, the receiving and processing circuitry could beplaced in the vicinity of the pars plana. In the case where theelectronics and the electrodes are on the same substrate chip, two ofthese chips can be placed with the retina between them, one chipsubretinal and the other chip epiretinal, such that the electrodes oneach may be aligned. Two or more guide pins with corresponding guidehole or holes on the mating chip accomplish the alignment.Alternatively, two or more tiny magnets on each chip, each magnet of thecorrect corresponding polarity, may similarly align the sub- andepiretinal electrode bearing chips. Alternatively, corresponding partswhich mate together on the two different chips and which in a fullymated position hold each other in a locked or “snap-together” relativeposition.

[0038] Now as an element of the external-to-the-eye structural part ofthe invention, there is a provision for a physician's hand-held testunit and a physician's local or remote office unit or both for controlof parameters such as amplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies, andpatterns of electrical stimulation.

[0039] The physician's hand-held test unit can be used to set up orevaluate and test the implant during or soon after implantation at thepatient's bedside. It has, essentially, the capability of receiving whatsignals come out of the eye and having the ability to send informationin to the retinal implant electronic chip. For example, it can adjustthe amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time, or in groups. Thehand-held unit is primarily used to initially set up and make adetermination of the success of the retinal prosthesis.

[0040] The physician's local office unit, which may act as a set-up unitas well as a test unit, acts directly through the video data processingunit. The remote physician's office unit would act over the telephonelines directly or through the Internet or a local or wide area network.The office units, local and remote, are essentially the same, with theexception that the physician's remote office unit has the additionalcommunications capability to operate from a location remote from thepatient. It may evaluate data being sent out by the internal unit of theeye, and it may send in information. Adjustments to the retinal colorprosthesis may be done remotely so that a physician could handle amultiple number of units without leaving his office. Consequently thisapproach minimizes the costs of initial and subsequent adjustments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The above and other features and advantages of the invention willbe more apparent from the following detailed description wherein:

[0042]FIG. 1 a shows the general structural aspects of the retina colorprosthesis system;

[0043]FIG. 1b shows the retina color prosthesis system with a structuralpart internal (to the eye), with an external part with subsystems foreye-motion feedback to enable maintaining a stable image presentation,and with a subsystems for communicating between the internal andexternal parts, and other structural subsystems;

[0044]FIG. 1c shows an embodiment of the retina color prosthesis systemwhich is, in part, worn in eyeglass fashion;

[0045]FIG. 1d shows the system in FIG. 1c in side view;

[0046]FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of the color I coding schemata for thestimulation of the sensation of color;

[0047]FIG. 2b represents an embodiment of the color I conveying methodwhere a “large” electrode stimulates many bipolar cells with the colorcoding schemata of FIG. 2a;

[0048]FIG. 2c represents an embodiment of the color II conveying methodwhere an individual electrode stimulates a single type of bipolar cell;

[0049]FIG. 3a represents an embodiment of the telemetry unit includingan external coil, an internal (to the eye) coil, and an internalelectronic chip;

[0050]FIG. 3b represents an embodiment of the telemetry unit includingan external coil, an internal (to the eye) coil, an external electronicchip, a dual coil transfer unit, and an internal electrode array;

[0051]FIG. 3c shows and acoustic energy and information transfer system;

[0052]FIG. 3d shows a light energy and information transfer system;

[0053]FIG. 4 represents an embodiment of the external telemetry unit;

[0054]FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an internal telemetry circuit andelectrode array switcher;

[0055]FIG. 6a shows a monopolar electrode arrangement and illustrates aset of round electrodes on a substrate material;

[0056]FIG. 6b shows a bipolar electrode arrangement;

[0057]FIG. 6c shows a multipolar electrode arrangement;

[0058]FIG. 7 shows the corresponding indifferent electrode for monopolarelectrodes;

[0059]FIG. 8a depicts the location of an epiretinal electrode arraylocated inside the eye in the vitreous humor located above the retina,toward the lens capsule and the aqueous humor;

[0060]FIG. 8b shows recessed epiretinal electrodes where theelectrically conducting electrodes are contained within the electricalinsulation material; a silicon chip acts as a substrate; and theelectrode insulator device is shaped so as to contact the retina in aconformal manner;

[0061]FIG. 8c is a rendering of an elongated epiretinal electrode arraywith the electrodes shown as pointed electrical conductors, embedded inan electrical insulator, where an pointed electrodes contact the retinain a conformal manner, however, elongated into the retina;

[0062]FIG. 9a shows the location of a subretinal electrode array belowthe retina, away from the lens capsule and the aqueous humor. The retinaseparates the subretinal electrode array from the vitreous humor;

[0063]FIG. 9b illustrates the subretinal electrode array with pointedelongated electrode, the insulator, and the silicon chip substrate wherethe subretinal electrode array is in conformal contact with the retinawith the electrodes elongated to some depth;

[0064]FIG. 10a shows a iridium electrode that comprises a iridium slug,an insulator, and a device substrate where this embodiment shows theiridium slug electrode flush with the extent of the insulator;

[0065]FIG. 10b indicates an embodiment similar to that shown in FIGS.10/12 a, however, the iridium slug is recessed from the insulator alongits sides, but with its top flush with the insulator;

[0066]FIG. 10c shows an embodiment with the iridium slug as in FIGS.10/12 b; however, the top of the iridium slug is recessed below thelevel of the insulator;

[0067]FIG. 10d indicates an embodiment with the iridium slug coming to apoint and insulation along its sides, as well as a being within theoverall insulation structure;

[0068]FIG. 10e indicates an embodiment of a method for fabricating andthe fabricated iridium electrode where on a substrate of silicon analuminum pad is deposited; on the pad the conductive adhesive is laidand platinum or iridium foil is attached thereby; a titanium ring isplaced, sputtered, plated, ion implanted, ion beam assisted deposited(IBAD) or otherwise attached to the platinum or iridium foil; siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide incombination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminumoxide or zirconium oxide or other insulator will adhere better to thetitanium while it would not adhere as well to the platinum or iridiumfoil;

[0069]FIG. 11a depicts a preferred electrode where it is formed on asilicon substrate and makes use of an aluminum pad, a metal foil such asplatinum or iridium, conductive adhesive, a titanium ring, aluminum orzirconium oxide, an aluminum layer, and a mask;

[0070]FIG. 11b shows an elongated electrode formed on the structure ofFIG. 11a with platinum electroplated onto the metal foil, the maskremoved and insulation applied over the platinum electrode;

[0071]FIG. 11c shows a variation of a form of the elongated electrodewherein the electrode thinner and more recessed from the well sides;

[0072]FIG. 11d shows a variation of a form of the elongated electrode,the electrode squatter but recessed from the well sides;

[0073]FIG. 11e shows a variation of a form of the elongated electrode,the electrode a mushroom shape with the sides of its tower recessed fromthe well sides and its mushroom top above the oxide insulating material;

[0074]FIG. 12a shows the coil attachment to two different conductingpads at an electrode nodes;

[0075]FIG. 12b shows the coil attachment to two different conductingpads at an electrode node, together with two separate insulatedconducting electrical pathways such as wires, each attached at twodifferent electrode node sites on two different substrates;

[0076]FIG. 12c shows an arrangement similar to that seen in FIGS. 12/16d, with the difference that the different substrates are very close witha non-conducting adhesive between them and an insulator such as aluminumor zirconium oxide forms a connection coating over the two substrates,in part;

[0077]FIG. 12d depicts an arrangement similar to that seen in FIGS.12/16 c; however, the connecting wires are replaced by an externallyplaced aluminum conductive trace;

[0078]FIG. 13 shows a hermetically sealed flip-chip in a ceramic orglass case with solder ball connections to hermetically sealed glassfrit and metal leads;

[0079]FIG. 14 shows a hermetically sealed electronic chip as in FIG. 18with the addition of biocompatible leads to pads on a remotely locatedelectrode substrate;

[0080]FIG. 15 shows discrete capacitors on the electrode-opposite sideof an electrode substrate;

[0081]FIG. 16a shows an electrode-electronics retinal implant placedwith the electrode half implanted beneath the retina, subretinally,while the electronics half projects above the retina, epiretinally;

[0082]FIG. 16b shows another form of sub- and epi-retinal implantationwherein half of the electrode implant is epiretinal and half issubretinal;

[0083]FIG. 16c shows the electrode parts are lined up by alignment pinsor by very small magnets;

[0084]FIG. 16d shows the electrode part lined up by template shapeswhich may snap together to hold the parts in a fixed relationship toeach other;

[0085]FIG. 17a shows the main screen of the physician's (local)controller (and programmer);

[0086]FIG. 17b illustrates the pixel selection of the processingalgorithm with the averaging of eight surrounding pixels chosen as oneelement of the processing;

[0087]FIG. 17c represents an electrode scanning sequence, in this casethe predefined sequence, A;

[0088]FIG. 17d shows electrode parameters, here for electrode B,including current amplitudes and waveform timelines;

[0089]FIG. 17e illustrates the screen for choosing the global electrodeconfiguration, monopolar, bipolar, or multipolar;

[0090]FIG. 17f renders a screen showing the definition of bipolar pairs(of electrodes);

[0091]FIG. 17g shows the definition of the multipole arrangements;

[0092]FIG. 18a illustrates the main menu screen for the palm-sized testunit;

[0093]FIG. 18b shows a result of pressing on the stimulate bar of themain menu screen, where upon pressing the start button the amplitudes A1and A2 are stimulated for times t1, t2, t3, and t4, until the stopbutton is pressed;

[0094]FIG. 18c exhibits a recording screen that shows the retinalrecording of the post-stimulus and the electrode impedance;

[0095]FIG. 19 shows the physician's remote controller that has the samefunctionality inside as the physician's controller but with the additionof communication means such as telemetry or telephone modem;

[0096]FIG. 20 shows the patient's controller unit;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0097] The following description is of the best mode presentlycontemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not tobe taken in a limiting sense, but is merely made for the purpose ofdescribing the general principles of the invention. The scope of theinvention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0098] Objective

[0099] The objective of the embodiments of the current invention is aretinal color prosthesis to restore color vision, in whole or in part,by electrically stimulating undamaged retinal cells, which remain inpatients with, lost or degraded visual function. Embodiments of thisretinal color prosthesis invention are directed toward helping patientswho have been blinded by degeneration of photoreceptors and other cells;but who have sufficient bipolar cells and the like to permit theperception of color vision by electric stimulation. By color vision, itis meant to include black, gray, and white among the term color.

[0100] General Description

[0101] Functionally, there are three main parts to an embodiment of thisretinal color prosthesis invention. See FIG. 1a. FIG. 1a is orientedtoward showing the main structural parts and subsystems, with a dottedenclosure to indication a functional intercommunications aspect. Thefirst part of the embodiment is external (1) to the eye. The second partis implanted internal (2) to the eye. The third part is means forcommunication between those two parts (3). Structurally there are twoparts. One part is external (1) to the eye and the other part (2) isimplanted within the eye. Each of these structural parts contains twoway communication circuitry for communication (3) between the internal(2) and external (1) parts.

[0102] The external part of the retinal color prosthesis is carried bythe patient. Typically, the external part including imager, video dataprocessing unit, eye-tracker, and transmitter/receiver are worn as aneyeglass-like unit. Typical of this embodiment, a front view of oneaspect of the structural external part (1) of the color retinalprosthesis is shown in FIG. 1c and a side view is shown in FIG. 1d, (1).In addition, there are two other units, which may be plugged into theexternal unit; when this is done they act as part of the external unit.The physician's control unit is not normally plugged into the externalpart worn by the patient, except when the physician is conducting anexamination and adjustment of the retinal color prosthetic. Thepatient's controller may or may not be normally plugged in. When thepatient's controller is plugged in, it can also receive signals from aremote physician's controller, which then acts in the same way as theplug-in physician's controller.

[0103] Examining further the embodiment of the subsystems of theexternal part, see FIG. 1b. These include an external color imager(111), an eye-motion compensation system (112), a head-motioncompensation system (131), a processing unit (113), a patient'scontroller (114), a physician's local controller (115), a physicianshand-held palm-size pocket-size unit (116), a physician's remotecontroller (117), and a telemetry means (118). The color imager is acolor video camera such as a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers animage approximating what the eyes would be seeing if they werefunctional.

[0104] An external imager (111) sends an image in the form of electricalsignals to the video data processing unit (113). The video dataprocessing unit consists of microprocessor CPU's and associatedprocessing chips including high-speed data signal processing (DSP)chips. This unit can format a grid-like or pixel-like pattern that issent to the electrodes by way of the telemetry communication subsystems(118, 121). See FIG. 1b. In this embodiment of the retinal colorprosthesis (FIG. 1b, (121)), these electrodes are incorporated in theinternal-to-the eye implanted part.

[0105] These electrodes, which are part of the internal implant (121),together with the telemetry circuitry (121) are inside the eye. Withother internally implanted electronic circuitry (121), they cooperatewith the electrodes so as to replicate the incoming pattern, in auseable form, for stimulation of the retina so as to reproduce afacsimile perception of the external scene. The eye-motion (112) andhead-motion (131) detectors supply information to the video dataprocessing unit (113) to shift the image presented to the retina (120).

[0106] There are three preferred embodiments for stimulating the retinavia the electrodes to convey the perception of color. Color informationis acquired by the imaging means (111). The color data is processed inthe video data processing unit (113).

[0107] First Preferred Color Mode

[0108] Color information (See FIG. 2a), in the first preferredembodiment, is encoded by time sequences of pulses (201) separated byvarying amounts of time (202), and also with the pulse duration beingvaried in time (203). The basis for the color encoding is the individualcolor code reference (211 through 218). The electrodes stimulate thetarget cells so as to create a color image for the patient,corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, orother imaging means. Using temporal coding of electrical stimuli placed(cf. FIG. 2b, 220, FIG. 2c, 230) on or near the retina (FIG. 2b and FIG.2c, 221, 222) the perception of color can be created in patients blindedby outer retinal degeneration. By sending different temporal codingschemes to different electrodes, an image composed of more than onecolor can be produced. FIG. 2 shows one stimulation protocol. Cathodicstimuli (202) are below the zero plane (220) and anodic stimuli (203)are above. All the stimulus rates are either “fast” (203) or “slow”(202) except for green (214), which includes an intermediate stimulusrate (204). The temporal codes for the other colors are shown as Red(211), as Magenta (212), as Cyan (213), as Yellow (215), as Blue (216),as Neutral (218). This preferred embodiment is directed towardelectrodes that are less densely packed in proximity to the retinalcells.

[0109] Second Preferred Color Mode

[0110] Color information, in a second preferred embodiment, is sent fromthe video data processing unit to the electrode array, where eachelectrode has been determined by test to stimulate one of a bipolartype: red-center green-surround, green-center-red-surround,blue-center-yellow-surround, or yellow-center-blue-surround. In thisembodiment, electrodes which are small enough to interact with a singlecell, or at most, a few cells. These electrodes are placed in thevicinity of individual bipolar cells, which react to a stimulus withnerve pulse rates and nerve pulse structure (i.e., pulse duration andpulse amplitude). Some of the bipolar cells, when electrically, orotherwise, stimulated, will send red-green signals to the brain. Otherswill send yellow-blue signals. This refers to the operation of thenormal retina. In the normal retina, red or green color photoreceptors(cone cells) send nerve pulses to the red-green bipolar cell which thenpass some form of this information up to the ganglion cells and then upto the visual cortex of the brain. With small electrodes individualbipolar cells can be excited in a spatial, or planar, pattern. Smallelectrodes are those with tip from 0.1 μm to 15 μm, and which individualelectrodes are spaced apart from a range 8 μm to 24 μm, so as toapproximate a one-to-one correspondence with the bipolar cells. Thesecond preferred embodiment is oriented toward a more densely packed setof electrodes.

[0111] Third Preferred Color Mode

[0112] A third preferred mode is a combination of the first and of thesecond preferred modes such that a broader area coverage of the colorinformation encoded by time sequences of pulses, of varying widths andseparations and with relatively fewer electrodes is combined with ahigher density of electrodes, addressing more the individual bipolarcells.

[0113] First Order and Higher Effects

[0114] Regardless of a particular theory of color vision, the impingingof colored light on the normal cones, and possibly rods, give rise insome fashion to the perception of color, i.e., multi-spectral vision. Inthe time-pulse coding color method, above, the absence of all, orsufficient, numbers of working cones (and rods) suggests ageneralization of the particular time-pulse color encoding method. Thegeneralization is based on the known, or partly known, neuron conductionpathways in the retina. The cone cells, for example, signal to bipolarcells, which in turn signal the ganglion cells. The originalspatial-temporal-color (including black, white) schema for conveyingcolor information as the cone is struck by particular wavelength photonsis then transformed to a patterned signal firing of the next cellularlevel, say the bipolar cells, the cones are absent or don't function.Thus, this second level of patterned signal firing is what one wishes tosupply to induce the perception of color vision.

[0115] The secondary layer of patterned firing may be close to thenecessary primary pattern, in which case the secondary pattern (S) maybe represented as P*(1+∈). The * indicates matrix multiplication. P isthe primary pattern, represented as a matrix $P = \begin{bmatrix}p_{11} & p_{1j} \\p_{k1} & p_{kj}\end{bmatrix}$

[0116] where P represents the light signals of a particularspatial-temporal pattern, e.g., flicker signals for green. The outputfrom the first cell layer, say the cones, is then S, the secondarypattern. This represents the output from the bipolar layer in responseto the input from the first (cone) layer. If S=P*(1+∈), where(represents a (vector) small deviation applied to the vector 1, then Sis represented by P to the lowest order, and by P*(1+∈) to the nextorder. Thus the response may be seen as a zero order effect and a firstorder linear effect. Additional terms in the functional relationship areincluded to completely define the functional relationship. If S is somenon-linear function of P, finding S by starting with P requires moreterms then the linear case to define the bulk of the functionalrelationship. However, regardless of the details of one color visiontheory or another, on physiological grounds S is some function of P. Asin the case of fitting individual patients with lenses for theirglasses, variations of parameters are expected in fitting each patientto a particular temporal coding of electrical stimuli.

[0117] Scaling Data from Photoreceptors to Bipolar Cells

[0118] As cited above, Greenberg (1998) indicates that electrical andphotic stimulation of the normal retina operate via similar mechanisms.Thus, even though electrical stimulation of a retina damaged by outerretinal degeneration is different from the electrical stimulation of anormal retina the temporal relationships are expected to be analogous.

[0119] To explain this it is noted that electrical stimulation of thenormal retinal is accomplished by stimulating the photoreceptor cells(including the color cells activated differentially according to thecolor of light impinging on them). For the outer retinal degeneration,it is precisely these photoreceptor cells which are missing. Therefore,the electrical stimulation in this case proceeds by way of the cellsnext up the ladder toward the optic nerve, namely, the bipolar cells.

[0120] The time constant for stimulating photoreceptor is about 20milliseconds. Thus the electrical pulse duration would need to be atleast 20 milliseconds. The time constant for stimulating bipolar cellsis around 9 seconds. These time constants are much longer than for theganglion cells (about 1 millisecond). The ganglion cells are anotherlayer of retinal cells closer to the optic nerve. The actual details ofthe behavior of the different cell types of the retina are quitecomplicated including the different relationships for current thresholdversus stimulus duration (cf. Greenberg, 1998). One may, however,summarize an apparent resonant response of the cells based on their timeconstants corresponding to the actual pulse stimulus duration.

[0121] In FIG. 2, which is extrapolated from external-to-the-eyeelectrical stimulation data of Young (1977) and from light stimulationdata of Festinger, Allyn, and White (1971), would be applicable to thephotoreceptor cells. One may scale the data down based on the ratio ofthe photoreceptor time constant (about 20 milliseconds) to that of thebipolar cells (about 9 milliseconds). Consequently, 50 milliseconds onthe time scale in FIG. 2 now corresponds to 25 milliseconds.Advantageously, stimulation rates and duration of pulses, as well aspulse widths may be chosen which apply to the electrode stimulation ofthe bipolar cells of the retina.

[0122] Eye Movement/Head Motion Compensation

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, an external imager such as a color CCDor color CMOS video camera (111) and a video data processing unit (113),with an external telemetry unit (118) present data to the internaleye-implant part. Another aspect of the preferred embodiment is a methodand apparatus for tracking eye movement (112) and using that informationto shift (113) the image presented to the retina. Another aspect of thepreferred embodiment utilizes a head motion sensor (131) and a headmotion compensation system (131, 113). The video data processing unitincorporates the data of the motion of the eye as well as that of thehead to further adjust the image electronically so as to account for eyemotion and head motion. Thus electronic image compensation,stabilization and adjustment are provided by the eye and head movementcompensation subsystems of the external part of the retinal colorprosthesis.

[0124] Logarithmic Encoding of Light

[0125] In one aspect of an embodiment (FIG. 1b), light amplitude isrecorded by the external imager (111). The video data processing unitusing a logarithmic encoding scheme (113) to convert the incoming lightamplitudes into the logarithmic electrical signals of these amplitudes(113). These electrical signals are then passed on by telemetry (118),(121), to the internal implant (121) which results in the retinal cells(120) being stimulated via the implanted electrodes (121), in thisembodiment as part of the internal implant (121). Encoding is doneoutside the eye, but may be done internal to the eye, with a sufficientinternal computational capability.

[0126] Energy and Signal Transmission

[0127] Coils

[0128] The retinal prosthesis system contains a color imager (FIG. 1b,111) such as a color CCD or CMOS video camera. The imaging output datais typically processed (113) into a-pixel-based format compatible withthe resolution of the implanted system. This processed data (113) isthen associated with corresponding electrodes and amplitude andpulse-width and frequency information is sent by telemetry (118) intothe internal unit coils, (311), (313), (314) (see FIG. 3a).Electromagnetic energy, is transferred into and out from an electroniccomponent (311) located internally in the eye (312), using two insulatedcoils, both located under the conjunctiva of the eye with one free endof one coil (313) joined to one free end of the second coil (314), thesecond free end of said one coil joined to the second free end of saidsecond coil. The second coil (314) is located in proximity to a coil(311) which is a part of said internally located electronic component,or, directly to said internally located electronic component (311). Thelarger coil is positioned near the lens of the eye. The larger coil isfastened in place in its position near the lens of the eye, for example,by suturing. FIG. 3b represents an embodiment of the telemetry unittemporally located near the eye, including an external temporal coil(321), an internal (to the eye) coil (312), an external-to-the-eyeelectronic chip (320), dual coil transfer units (314, 323), (321,322)and an internal-to-the-eye electrode array (325). The advantage oflocating the external electronics in the fatty tissue behind the eye isthat there is a reasonable amount of space there for the electronics andin that position it appears not to interfere with the motion of the eye.

[0129] Ultrasonic Sound

[0130] In another aspect the information coding is done with ultrasonicsound and in a third aspect information is encoded by modulating light.An (FIG. 3c) ultrasonic transducer (341) replaces the electromagneticwave receiving coil on the implant (121) inside the eye. An ultrasonictransducer (342) replaces the coil outside the eye for the ultrasoniccase. A transponder (343) under the conjunctiva of the eye may be usedto amplify the acoustic signal and energy either direction. Bypiezoelectric effects, the sound vibration is turned into electricalcurrent, and energy extracted therefrom.

[0131] Modulated Light Beam

[0132] For the light modulation (FIG. 3d) case, a light emitting diode(LED) or laser diode or other light generator (361), capable of beingmodulated, acts as the information transmitter. Information istransferred serially by modulating the light beam, and energy isextracted from the light signal after it is converted to electricity. Aphoto-detector (362), such as a photodiode, which turns the modulatedlight signal into a modulated electrical signal, is used as a receiver.A set of a photo-generator and a photo-detector are on the implant (121)and a set is also external to the eye

[0133] Prototype-like Device

[0134]FIG. 4 shows an example of the internal-to-the-eye and theexternal-to-the eye parts of the retinal color prosthesis, together witha means for communicating between the two. The video camera (401)connects to an amplifier (402) and to a microprocessor (403) with memory(404). The microprocessor is connected to a modulator (405). Themodulator is connected to a coil drive circuit (406). The coil drivecircuit is connected to an oscillator (407) and to the coil (408). Thecoil (408) can receive energy inductively, which can be used to rechargea battery (410), which then supplies power. The battery may also berecharged from a charger (409) on a power line source (411).

[0135] The internal-to-the eye implanted part shows a coil (551), whichconnects, to both a rectifier circuit (552) and to a demodulator circuit(553). The demodulator connects to a switch control unit (554). Therectifier (552) connects to a plurality of diodes (555) which rectifythe current to direct current for the electrodes (556); the switchcontrol sets the electrodes as on or off as they set the switches (557).The coils (408) and (551) serve to connect inductively theinternal-to-the-eye (400) subsystem and the external-to-the patient(500) subsystem by electromagnetic waves. Both power and information canbe sent into the internal unit. Information can be sent out to theexternal unit. Power is extracted from the incoming electromagneticsignal and may be accumulated by capacitors connected to each electrodeor by capacitive electrodes themselves.

[0136] Simple Electrode Implant

[0137]FIG. 6a illustrates a set of round monopolar electrodes (602) on asubstrate material (601). FIG. 7 shows the corresponding indifferentelectrode (702) for these monopolar electrodes, on a substrate (701),which may be the back of (601). FIG. 6b shows a bipolar arrangement ofelectrodes, both looking down onto the plane of the electrodes, positive(610) and negative (611), and also looking at the electrodes sideways tothat view, positive (610) and negative (611), sitting on their substrate(614). Similarly for FIG. 6c where a multipole triplet is shown, withtwo positive electrodes (621) and one negative electrode, looking downon their substrate plane, and looking sideways to that view, alsoshowing the substrate (614).

[0138] Epiretinal Electrode Array

[0139]FIG. 8a depicts the location of an epiretinal electrode array(811) located inside the eye (812) in the vitreous humor (813) locatedabove the retina (814), toward the lens capsule (815) and the aqueoushumor (816);

[0140] One aspect of the present embodiment, shown in FIG. 8b, is theinternal retinal color prosthetic part, which has electrodes (817) whichmay be flat conductors that are recessed in an electrical insulator(818). One flat conductor material is a biocompatible metallic foil(817). Platinum foil is a particular type of biocompatible metal foil.The electrical insulator (818) in one aspect of the embodiment issilicone.

[0141] The silicone (818) is shaped to the internal curvature of theretina (814). The vitreous humor (813), the conductive solutionnaturally present in the eye, becomes the effective electrode since theinsulator (818) confines the field lines in a column until the currentreaches the retina (814). A further advantage of this design is that theretinal tissue (814) is only in contact with the insulator (818), suchas silicone, which may be more inactive, and thus, more biocompatiblethan the metal in the electrodes. Advantageously, another aspect of anembodiment of this invention is that adverse products produced by theelectrodes (817) are distant from the retinal tissue (814) when theelectrodes are recessed.

[0142]FIG. 8c shows elongated epiretinal electrodes (820). Theelectrically conducting electrodes (820) says are contained within theelectrical insulation material (818); a silicon chip (819) acts as asubstrate. The electrode insulator device (818) is shaped so as tocontact the retina (814) in a conformal manner.

[0143] Subretinal Electrode Array

[0144]FIG. 9a shows the location of a subretinal electrode array (811)below the retina (814), away from the lens capsule (815) and the aqueoushumor (816). The retina (814) separates the subretinal electrode arrayfrom the vitreous humor (813). FIG. 9b illustrates the subretinalelectrode array (811) with pointed elongated electrodes (817), theinsulator (818), and the silicon chip (819) substrate. The subretinalelectrode array (811) is in conformal contact with the retina (814) withthe electrodes (817) elongated to some depth.

[0145] Electrodes

[0146] Iridium Electrodes

[0147] Now FIG. 10 will illuminate structure and manufacture of iridiumelectrodes (FIGS. 10a-e). FIG. 10a shows an iridium electrode, whichcomprises an iridium slug (1011), an insulator (1012), and a devicesubstrate (1013). This embodiment shows the iridium slug electrode flushwith the extent of the insulator. FIG. 10bindicates an embodimentsimilar to that shown in FIG. 10a, however, the iridium slug (1011) isrecessed from the insulator (1012) along its sides, but with its topflush with the insulator. When the iridium electrodes (1011) arerecessed in the insulating material (1012), they may have the sidesexposed so as to increase the effective surface area without increasinggeometric area of the face of the electrode. If an electrode (1011) isnot recessed it may be coated with an insulator (1012), on all sides,except the flat surface of the face (1011) of the electrode. Such anarrangement can be embedded in an insulator that has an overall profilecurvature that follows the curvature of the retina. The overall profilecurvature may not be continuous, but may contain recesses, which exposethe electrodes.

[0148]FIG. 10c shows an embodiment with the iridium slug as in FIG. 10b,however, the top of the iridium slug (1011) is recessed below the levelof the insulator; FIG. 10d indicates an embodiment with the iridium slug(1011) coming to a point and insulation along its sides (1021), as wellas a being within the overall insulation structure (1021). FIG. 10eindicates an embodiment of a method for fabricating the iridiumelectrodes. On a substrate (1013) of silicon an aluminum pad (1022) isdeposited. On the pad the conductive adhesive (1023) is laid andplatinum or iridium foil (1024) is attached thereby. A titanium ring(1025) is placed, sputtered, plated, ion implanted, ion beam assisteddeposited (IBAD) or otherwise attached to the platinum or iridium foil(1024). Silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride andsilicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminumnitride, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide (1012) or other insulator canadhere better to the titanium (1025) while it would not otherwise adhereas well to the platinum or iridium foil (1024). The depth of the wellfor the iridium electrodes ranges from 0.1 μm to 1 mm.

[0149] Elongated Electrodes

[0150] Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention is the elongatedelectrode, which are designed to stimulate deeper retinal cells, in oneembodiment, by penetrating the retina. By getting closer to the targetcells for stimulation, the current required for stimulation is lower andthe focus of the stimulation is more localized. The lengths chosen are100 (m through 500 (m, including 300 (m. FIG. 8c is a rendering of anelongated epiretinal electrode array with the electrodes shown aspointed electrical conductors (820), embedded in an electrical insulator(818), where the elongated electrodes (811) contact the retina in aconformal manner, however, penetrating into the retina (814).

[0151] These elongated electrodes, in an aspect of this embodiment ofthe invention, may be of all the same length. In a different aspect ofan embodiment, they may be of different lengths. Said electrodes may beof varying lengths (FIG. 8, 820), such that the overall shape of saidelectrode group conforms to the curvature of the retina (814). In eitherof these cases, each may penetrate the retina from an epiretinalposition (FIG. 8a, 811), or, in a different aspect of an embodiment ofthis invention, each may penetrate the retina from a subretinal position(FIG. 9b, 817).

[0152] One method of making the elongated electrodes is byelectroplating with one of an electrode material, such that theelectrode, after being started, continuously grows in analogy to astalagmite or stalactite. The elongated electrodes are 100 to 500microns in length, the thickness of the retina averaging 200 microns.The electrode material is a substance selected from the group consistingof pyrolytic carbon, titanium nitride, platinum, iridium oxide, andiridium. The insulating material for the electrodes is a substanceselected from the group silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, siliconnitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalumoxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide.

[0153] Platinum Electrodes

[0154]FIG. 11 (a-e) demonstrates a preferred structure of, and methodof, making, spiked and mushroom platinum electrodes. Examining FIG. 11aone sees that the support for the flat electrode (1103) and othercomponents such as electronic circuits (not shown) is the siliconsubstrate (1101). An aluminum pad (1102) is placed where an electrode orother component is to be placed (1102). In order to hermeticallyseal-off the aluminum and silicon from any contact with biologicalactivity, a metal foil (1103), such as platinum or iridium, is appliedto the aluminum pad (1102) using conductive adhesive (1104).Electroplating is not used since a layer formed by electroplating, inthe range of the required thinness, has small-scale defects or holeswhich destroy the hermetic character of the layer. A titanium ring(1105) is next placed on the platinum or iridium foil (1103). Normally,this placement is by ion implantation, sputtering or ion beam assisteddeposition (IBAD) methods. Silicon carbide, diamond-like coating,silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide(1106) is placed on the silicon substrate (1101) and the titanium ring(1105). In one embodiment, an aluminum layer (1107) is plated ontoexposed parts of the titanium ring (1105) and onto the silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide orzirconium oxide (1106). In this embodiment the aluminum (1107) layeracts as an electrical conductor. A mask (1108) is placed over thealuminum layer (1107).

[0155] In forming an elongated, non-flat, electrode platinum (FIG. 11b)is electroplated onto the platinum or iridium foil (1103). Subsequently,the mask (1108) is removed and insulation (1110) is applied over theplatinum electrode (1109).

[0156] In FIG. 11c a platinum electrode (1109) is shown which is moreinternal to the well formed by the silicon carbide, diamond-likecoating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titaniumoxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide or zirconiumoxide and its titanium ring. The electrode (1109) is also thinner andmore elongated and more pointed. FIG. 11d shows a platinum electrodeformed by the same method as was used in FIGS. 11a, 11 b, and 11 c. Theplatinum electrode (1192) is more internal to the well formed by thesilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide and its titanium ring as was theelectrode (1109) in FIG. 11c. However it is less elongated and lesspointed.

[0157] The platinum electrode is internal to the well formed by thesilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide and its titanium ring; said electrodewhole angle at it's peak being in the range from 1° to 120°; the base ofsaid conical or pyramidal electrode ranging from 1 μm to 500 μm; thelinear section of the well unoccupied by said conical or pyramidalelectrode ranging from zero to one-third.

[0158] A similar overall construction is depicted in FIG. 11e. Theelectrode (1193), which may be platinum, is termed a mushroom shape. Themaximum current density for a given metal is fixed. The mushroom shapepresents a relatively larger area than a conical electrode of the sameheight. The mushroom shape advantageously allows a higher current, forthe given limitation on the current density (e.g., milliamperes persquare millimeter) for the chosen electrode material, since the mushroomshape provides a larger area.

[0159] Inductive Coupling Coils

[0160] Information transmitted electromagnetically into or out of theimplanted retinal color prosthesis utilizes insulated conducting coilsso as to allow for inductive energy and signal coupling. FIG. 12 showsan insulated conducting coil and insulated conducting electricalpathways, e.g., wires, attached to substrates at what would otherwise beelectrode nodes, with flat, recessed metallic, conductive electrodes(1201). In referring to wire or wires, insulated conducting electricalpathways are included, such as in a “two-dimensional” “on-chip” coil ora “two-dimensional” coil on a polymide substrate, and the leads to andfrom these “two-dimensional” coil structures. A silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide orzirconium oxide (1204) is shown acting as both an insulator and anhermetic seal. Another aspect of the embodiment is shown in FIG. 12a.The electrode array unit (1201) and the electronic circuitry unit (1202)can be on one substrate, or they may be on separate substrates (1202)joined by an insulated wire or by a plurality of insulated wires (1203).Said separate substrate units can be relatively near one another. Forexample they might lie against a retinal surface, either epiretinally orsubretinally placed. Two substrates units connected by insulated wiresmay carry more electrodes than if only one substrate with electrodes wasemployed, or it might be arranged with one substrate carrying theelectrodes, the other the electronic circuitry. Another arrangement hasthe electrode substrate or substrates placed in a position to stimulatethe retinal cells, while the electronics are located closer to the lensof the eye to avoid heating the sensitive retinal tissue.

[0161] In all of the FIGS. 12a, 12 b, and 12 c, a coil (1205) is shownattached by an insulated wire. The coil can be a coil of wire, or it canbe a “two dimensional” trace as an “on-chip” component or as a componenton polyimide. This coil can provide a stronger electromagnetic couplingto an outside-the-eye source of power and of signals. FIG. 12d shows anexternally placed aluminum (conductive) trace instead of theelectrically conducting wire of FIG. 12c. Also shown is an electricallyinsulating adhesive (1208) which prevents electrical contact between thesubstrates (1202) carrying active circuitry (1209).

[0162] Hermetic Sealing

[0163] Hermetic Coating

[0164] All structures, which are subject to corrosive action as a resultof being implanted in the eye, or, those structures which are notcompletely biocompatible and not completely safe to the internal cellsand fluids of the eye require hermetic sealing. Hermetic sealing may beaccomplished by coating the object to be sealed with silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide orzirconium oxide. These materials also provide electrical insulation. Themethod and apparatus of hermetic sealing by aluminum and zirconium oxidecoating is described in a pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/994515. The methods of coating a substrate material with the hermeticsealant include sputtering, ion implantation, and ion-beam-assisteddeposition (IBAD).

[0165] Hermetic Box

[0166] Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention is hermeticallysealing the silicon chip (1301) by placing it in a metal or ceramic box(1302) of rectangular cross-section with the top and bottom sidesinitially open (FIG. 13). The box may be of one (1302) of the metalsselected from the group comprising platinum, iridium, palladium, gold,and stainless steel. Solder balls (1303) are placed on the “flip-chip”,i.e., a silicon-based chip that has the contacts on the bottom of thechip (1301). Metal feedthroughs (1304) made from a metal selected fromthe group consisting of radium, platinum, titanium, iridium, palladium,gold, and stainless steel. The bottom cover (1306) is formed from one ofthe ceramics selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide orzirconium oxide. The inner surface (1805), toward the solder ball,(1803)) of the feed-through (1804) is plated with gold or with nickel.The ceramic cover (1806) is then attached to the box using a braze(1807) selected from the group consisting of: 50% titanium together with50% nickel and gold. Electronics are then inserted and the metal topcover (of the same metal selected for the box) is laser welded in place.

[0167] Separate Electronics Chip Substrate and Electrode Substrate

[0168] In one embodiment of the invention (FIG. 14), the chip substrate(1401) is hermetically sealed in a case (1402) or by a coating of thealuminum, zirconium, or magnesium oxide coating. However, the electrodes(1403) and its substrate (1404) form a distinct and separate element.Insulated and hermetically sealed wires (1405) connect the two. Theplacement of the electrode element may be epiretinal, while theelectronic chip element may be relatively distant from the electrodeelement, as much distant as being in the vicinity of the eye lens.Another embodiment of the invention has the electrode element placedsubretinally and the electronic chip element placed toward the rear ofthe eye, being outside the eye, or, being embedded in the sclera of theeye or in or under the choroid, blood support region for the retina.Another embodiment of the invention has the electronic chip elementimplanted in the fatty tissue behind the eye and the electrode elementplaced subretinally or epiretinally.

[0169] Capacitive Electrodes

[0170] A plurality of capacitive electrodes can be used to stimulate theretina, in place of non-capacitive electrodes. A method of fabricatingsaid capacitive electrode uses a pair of substances selected from thepair group consisting of the pairs iridium and iridium oxide; and,titanium and titanium nitride. The metal electrode acts with theinsulating oxide or nitride, which typically forms of its own accord onthe surface of the electrode. Together, the conductor and the insulatorform an electrode with capacitance.

[0171] Mini-capacitors (FIG. 15) can also be used to supply the requiredisolating capacity. The capacity of the small volume size capacitors(1501) is 0.47 microfarads. The dimensions of these capacitors areindividually 20 mils (length) by 20 mils (width) by 40 mils (height). Inone embodiment of the invention, the capacitors are mounted on thesurface of a chip substrate (1502), that surface being opposite to thesurface containing the active electronics elements of the chipsubstrate.

[0172] Electrode/Electronics Component Placement

[0173] In one embodiment (FIG. 16a) the internal-to-the-eye-implantedpart consists of two subsystems, the electrode component subretinallypositioned and the electronic component epiretinally positioned. Theelectronics component, with its relatively high heat dissipation, ispositioned at a distance, within the eye, from the electrode componentplaced near the retina that is sensitive to heat.

[0174] An alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 16b is where one of thecombined electronic and electrode substrate units is positionedsubretinally and the other is located epiretinally and both are heldtogether across the retina so as to efficiently stimulate bipolar andassociated cells in the retina.

[0175] An alternative embodiment of the invention has the electronicchip element implanted in the fatty tissue behind the eye and theelectrode element placed subretinally or epiretinally, and power andsignal communication between them by electromagnetic means includingradio-frequency (rf), optical, and quasi-static magnetic fields, or byacoustic means including ultrasonic transducers.

[0176]FIG. 16c shows how the two electronic-electrode substrate unitsare held positioned in a prescribed relationship to each other by smallmagnets. Alternatively the two electronic-electrode substrate units areheld in position by alignment pins. Another aspect of this is to havethe two electronic-electrode substrate units held positioned in aprescribed relationship to each other by snap-together mating parts,some exemplary ones being shown in FIG. 16d.

[0177] Neurotrophic Factor

[0178] Another aspect of the embodiment is the use of a neurotrophicfactor, for example, Nerve Growth Factor, applied to the electrodes, orto the vicinity of the electrodes, to aid in attracting target nervesand other nerves to grow toward the electrodes.

[0179] Eye-motion Compensation System

[0180] Another aspect of the embodiment is an eye-motion compensationsystem comprising an eye-movement tracking apparatus (FIG. 1b, 112);measurements of eye movement; a transmitter to convey said measurementsto video data processor unit that interprets eye movement measurementsas angular positions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations; andthe processing of eye position, velocity, acceleration data by the videodata processing unit for image compensation, stabilization andadjustment.

[0181] Ways of eye-tracking (FIG. 1b, 112) include utilizing the cornealeye reflex, utilizing an apparatus for measurements of electricalactivity where one or more coils are located on the eye and one or morecoils are outside the eye, utilizing an apparatus where three orthogonalcoils placed on the eye and three orthogonal coils placed outside theeye, utilizing an apparatus for tracking movements where electricalrecordings from extra-ocular muscles are measured and conveyed to thevideo data processing unit that interprets such electrical measurementsas angular positions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations. Thevideo data processing unit uses these values for eye position, velocity,and acceleration to compute image compensation, stabilization andadjustment data, which is then applied by the video data processor tothe electronic form of the image.

[0182] Head Sensor

[0183] Another aspect of the embodiment utilizes a head motion sensor(131). The basic sensor in the head motion sensor unit is an integratingaccelerometer. A laser gyroscope can also be used. A third sensor is thecombination of an integrating accelerometer and a laser gyroscope. Thevideo data processing unit can incorporate the data of the motion of theeye as well as that of the head to further adjust the imageelectronically so as to account for eye motion and head motion.

[0184] Physician's Local Control Unit

[0185] Another aspect includes a retinal prosthesis with (see FIG. 1a) aphysician's local external control unit (15) allowing the physician toexert setup control of parameters such as amplitudes, pulse widths,frequencies, and patterns of electrical stimulation. The physician'scontrol unit (15) is also capable of monitoring information from theimplanted unit (21) such as electrode current, electrode impedance,compliance voltage, and electrical recordings from the retina. Themonitoring is done via the internal telemetry unit, electrode andelectronics assembly (21).

[0186] An important aspect of setting up the retinal color prosthesis issetting up electrode current amplitudes, pulse widths, and frequenciesso they are comfortable for the patient. FIGS. 17a-c and FIGS. 18a-cillustrate some of the typical displays. A computer-controlledstimulating test that incorporates patient response to arrive at optimalpatient settings may be compared to being fitted for eyeglasses, firstdetermining diopter, then cylindrical astigmatic correction, and soforth for each patient. The computer uses interpolation andextrapolation routines. Curve or surface or volume fitting of data maybe used. For each pixel, the intensity in increased until a threshold isreached and the patient can detect something in his visual field. Theintensity is further increased until the maximum comfortable brightnessis reached. The patient determines his subjective impression ofone-quarter maximum brightness, one-half maximum brightness, andthree-quarters maximum brightness. Using the semi-automated processingof the patient-in-the-loop with the computer, the test program runsthrough the sequences and permutations of parameters and remembers thepatient responses. In this way apparent brightness response curves arecalibrated for each electrode for amplitude. Additionally, in the sameway as for amplitude, pulse width and pulse rate (frequency), responsecurves are calibrated for each patient. The clinician can then determinewhat the best settings are for the patient.

[0187] This method is generally applicable to many, if not all, types ofelectrode based retinal prostheses. Moreover, it also is applicable tothe type of retinal prosthesis, which uses an external light intensifiershining upon essentially a spatially distributed set of light sensitivediodes with a light activated electrode. In this latter case, aphysician's test, setup and control unit is applied to the lightintensifier which scans the implanted photodiode array, element byelement, where the patient can give feedback and so adjust the lightintensifier parameters.

[0188] Remote Physician's Unit

[0189] Another aspect of an embodiment of this invention includes (seeFIG. 1b) a remote physician control unit (117) that can communicate witha patient's unit (114) over the public switched telephone network orother telephony means. This telephone-based pair of units is capable ofperforming all of the functions of the of the physician's local controlunit (115).

[0190] Physician's Unit Measurements, Menus and Displays

[0191] Both the physician's local (115) and the physician's remote (117)units always measure brightness, amplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies,patterns of stimulation, shape of log amplification curve, electrodecurrent, electrode impedance, compliance voltage and electricalrecordings from the retina.

[0192]FIG. 17a shows the main screen of the Physician's Local and RemoteController and Programmer. FIG. 17b illustrates the pixel selection ofthe processing algorithm with the averaging of eight surrounding pixelschosen as one element of the processing. FIG. 17c represents anelectrode scanning sequence, in this case the predefined sequence, A.FIG. 17d shows electrode parameters, here for electrode B, includingcurrent amplitudes and waveform timelines. FIG. 17e illustrates thescreen for choosing the global electrode configuration, monopolar,bipolar, or multipolar. FIG. 17f renders a screen showing the definitionof bipolar pairs (of electrodes). FIG. 17g shows the definition of themultipole arrangements.

[0193]FIG. 18a illustrates the main menu screen for the palm-sized testunit. FIG. 18b shows a result of pressing on the stimulate bar of the(palm-sized unit) main menu screen, where upon pressing the start buttonthe amplitudes A1 and A2 are stimulated for times t1, t2, t3, and t4,until the stop button is pressed. FIG. 18c exhibits a recording screenthat shows the retinal recording of the post-stimulus and the electrodeimpedance.

[0194]FIG. 19a, 19 b and 19 c show different embodiments of thePhysician's Remote Controller, which has the same functionality insideas the Physician's Local Controller but with the addition ofcommunication means such as telemetry or telephone modem.

[0195] Patient's Controller

[0196] Corresponding to the Physician's Local Controller, but with muchless capability, is the Patient's Controller. FIG. 20 shows thepatient's local controller unit. This unit can monitor and adjustbrightness (2001), contrast (2002) and magnification (2003) of the imageon a non-continuous basis. The magnification control (2003) adjustsmagnification both by optical zoom lens control of the lens for theimaging means (FIG. 1, 11), and by electronic adjustment of the image inthe data processor (FIG. 2, 13).

[0197] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by meansof specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modificationsand variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retinal prosthetic for color sight restorationcomprising: a. a color imager to capture color image, said color imagingbeing part of an external component, which is carried by the patient; b.a video data processing unit for converting said image to electricalsignals which contain image color signal data, said color imaging beingpart of said external component, which is carried by the patient; c. aplurality of electrodes and one or more electronic circuits, implantablein the eye, said electrode and said electronic circuits being part of acomponent which is internal to the eye; d. an external and internalreceiver and transmitter for communication between the externalcomponent and the internal components; e. said implantable electroniccircuits configured to receive color signal information from the videodata processing unit, activate the electrodes based on said color signalinformation and extract electrical power from the received signal; f.said electrodes configured to stimulate those cells of the retinaelectrically which when stimulated give the perception of color.
 2. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising a video dataprocessing unit which converts said color image to electrical signalscorresponding to data for a pixel or grid-like arrangement of electrodesplaced within the eye.
 3. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 2further comprising said video data processing unit wherein dataprocessing algorithms and processing hardware include data processingfor electronic compensation for the motion of the eye(s) and head areprocessed.
 4. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 3 furthercomprising an eye-motion compensation system.
 5. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 4 further comprising an eye-movement trackingapparatus; data output of said eye-movement tracking apparatus; whereinsaid data corresponds to measurements of eye movement; a transmitter toconvey said measurement data to said video data processing unit; whereinthe video data processing unit algorithmically processes eye movementmeasurements such as angular positions, angular velocities, and angularaccelerations; temporarily stored data image compensation parameters,stabilization parameters, and adjustment parameters from the processedeye position, eye velocity, and eye acceleration; electronic imagestabilization to provide eye-motion compensation computationally derivedfrom said temporarily stored data whereby the electronic image presentedto the implanted electrodes inside the eye corresponds to what a normaleye would see when looking in its direction.
 6. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 5 further comprising a head tracking systemwherein a basic sensor in the head motion sensor unit is a sensorselected from the group consisting of an integrating accelerometer, amicro-machined mechanical gyroscope, a laser gyroscope, a combination ofan integrating accelerometer and a micro-machined mechanical gyroscope;a combination of an integrating accelerometer and a laser gyroscope; themotion and position of the head is determined by said basic sensor;wherein the data are communicated from the head tracking system to thevideo data processing unit by telemetry; wherein the data are processedin the video data processor; and wherein said video data processing unitcan process the data of the motion of the eye as well as that of thehead to further adjust the image electronically whereby the electronicdata image is presented to the patient adjusted for eye motion and headmotion.
 7. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprisingprogrammable external-to-the-patient and internal-to-the-eye units whichmonitor and adjust, upon external command, data to and from theinternal-to-the eye retinal implants.
 8. The retinal color prosthesis asin claim 7 further comprising a physician's control unit locatedexternal to the patient which can controls image data signal informationsent from the video data processing unit into the internal-to-the-eyeimplant; and wherein the physician's control unit can receiveinformation which the internal-to-the-eye implant transmits out of theeye.
 9. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 8 further comprisingsaid unit wherein the physician can control parameters of the image datasignal such as amplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies, and patterns ofelectrical stimulation.
 10. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 9wherein said physician's control unit monitors said transmitted-outinformation including electrode current, electrode impedance, compliancevoltage, or, electrical recordings from the retina.
 11. The retinalcolor prosthesis as in claim 7 further comprising a physician'shand-held test unit comprising a hand-held computer used to set up andevaluate a retinal prosthesis implant during or soon after implantationat the patient's bedside; said hand-held computer having the capabilityof receiving what signals are transmitted out of the eye and having theability to send information in to the retinal implant electronic chip;said hand-held computer able to adjust the amplitudes on each electrode,one at a time, or in groups.
 12. The retinal color prosthesis as inclaim 7 further comprising a patient's control unit wherein a unitlocated external to the eye controls apparent brightness, contrast andmagnification as presented to the patient by the retinal prosthesis;that has circuitry, which upon remote command, will respond in a mannersimilar to that of said physician's local unit; and which has atransmitter and a receiver for remote communication.
 13. The retinalcolor prosthesis as in claim 11 further comprising the physician'sremote unit further comprising a transmitter and a receiver forcommunication with the video data processing unit wherein saidphysician's remote unit performs all of the functions of the localphysician's control unit.
 14. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 2further comprising said video data processing unit for encoding andtransmitting time sequences, amplitudes and widths of pulses forsignaling color to retinal cells.
 15. The retinal color prosthesis as inclaim 2 further comprising said video data processing unit for encodingelectrical signal information for signaling color to the differentretinal cells, in a planar pattern, corresponding to the location ofelectrodes in the vicinity of the individual retinal cells, includingred-center-green surround, green-center-red-surround, blue-center-yellowsurround and yellow-center-blue-surround bipolar cells.
 16. The retinalcolor prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising one or morehermetically sealed and partially insulated electrode subpart(s). 17.The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising one ormore hermetically sealed electronic circuit subpart(s).
 18. The retinalcolor prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising electronic circuitswithin the eye for transferring received processed image data to theelectrodes.
 19. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 18 furthercomprising electronic circuits for applying received color signalinformation to a plurality of electrodes, corresponding to the originalexternal pixel-like scene capture.
 20. The retinal color prosthesis asin claim 1 further comprising electronic circuits which measure andtransmit out of the eye the signal power level being receivedinternally.
 21. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 furthercomprising electronic circuits which measure and transmit out of the eyean impedance for each of the different electrodes.
 22. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising electronic circuits whichmeasure electrophysiologic retinal recordings and transmit them out ofthe eye.
 23. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 furthercomprising said internal component at least partially implantedsubretinally.
 24. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 furthercomprising said internal component implanted epiretinally.
 25. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising said pluralityof electrodes in a monopolar arrangement.
 26. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising said plurality of electrodesin a bipolar arrangement.
 27. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1further comprising said plurality of electrodes in a multipolararrangement.
 28. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 27 furthercomprising said plurality of electrodes in an electric field focusingarrangement.
 29. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 wherein saidplurality of electrodes further comprises a substance from the groupconsisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium nitride, platinum, iridium, andiridium oxide.
 30. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 16 or claim17 further comprising an hermetic sealant coating substance selectedfrom the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating,silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide. 31.The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising saidplurality of electrodes insulated along their extension, up to theirtips.
 32. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 31 further comprisingsaid insulation selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide,zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinatedethylene propylene and waxes.
 33. The retinal color prosthesis as inclaim 1 comprising a plurality of capacitive electrodes, formed from apair of substances, selected from the group of pairs consisting of thepairs iridium and iridium oxide, and, titanium and titanium nitride. 34.The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 comprising a plurality ofcapacitors which are mounted on the electrode substrate in a one-to-onecorrespondence with the plurality of electrodes.
 35. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising said internal componenthaving a configuration of two separate parts wherein insulated wiresjoin said parts.
 36. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 35 furthercomprising one of said two separate parts of the internal component thatis configured as a combined electronic and electrode component and theother of said two separate parts of the internal component which is alsoconfigured as a combined electronic and electrode component.
 37. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 36 further comprising one of saidcombined electronic and electrode component subretinally positioned andthe other of said combined electronic and electrode componentepiretinally positioned.
 38. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 37wherein said two components are held positioned in a prescribedrelationship to each other by small magnets.
 39. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 37 wherein said two components are heldpositioned in a prescribed relationship to each other by alignment pins.40. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 37 wherein said twocomponents are held positioned in a prescribed relationship to eachother by snap-together mating parts.
 41. The retinal color prosthesis asin claim 35 further comprising one of said two separate parts of theinternal component that is configured as an electronic component and theother of said two separate parts of the internal component which isconfigured as an electrode component.
 42. The retinal color prosthesisas in claim 41 further comprising said electrode component subretinallypositioned and said electronic component epiretinally positioned. 43.The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 42 further comprising saidelectronics component in a position distant, within the eye, from saidelectrode component placed near the retina.
 44. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising an insulated conducting coilattached to the internal component, each end of the coil attached to anelectrically different attachment point on said internal component. 45.The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 44 further comprising twoinsulated coils, one larger, and the second smaller, one free end of onecoil joined to one free end of the second coil, the other free end ofsaid one coil joined to the other free end of said second coil, saidsmaller coil in proximity to a coil attached to said internal component,said larger coil positioned and fastened toward the lens of the eye, forexample, by suturing.
 46. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1further comprising internal component which is split into two parts,first part an electronics part, the second part an electronics andelectrode part; the first and second parts have integral to each apick-up of conducting insulated conducting coil; an energy transferstructure comprising two insulated conducting coils, one larger, and thesecond smaller, one free end of one coil joined to one free end of thesecond coil, the other free end of said one coil joined to the otherfree end of said second coil, said smaller coil in proximity to saidcoil attached to the first internal part; said first internal partlocated in the fatty tissue behind the eye; the second internal partlocated within the eye; said larger coil attached temporally in thevicinity of the eye.
 47. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1further comprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surface ofthe electrodes.
 48. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 47 furthercomprising a coating of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) on the surface of theelectrodes.
 49. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 furthercomprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surface of theinsulator near the electrodes.
 50. The retinal color prosthesis as inclaim 49 further comprising a coating of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) onthe surface of the insulator near the electrodes.
 51. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 1 further comprising said plurality of electrodespartially insulated.
 52. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 51further comprising electrodes recessed within an insulator.
 53. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 51 wherein the electrode surfacesare flat.
 54. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 51 where in theinsulating surfaces form a curved surface such as will conform to thecurvature of the retina at its designated placement point.
 55. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 51 wherein the electrodes arerecessed within the insulator, but the sides of the electrodes areexposed.
 56. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 wherein saidelectrodes are elongated electrodes, from 100 microns to 500 microns inlength.
 57. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 wherein theelectrodes are iridium slugs attached to a substrate by conductiveadhesive.
 58. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 57 wherein thesubstrate is covered with aluminum or zirconium oxide or silicone as aninsulator with wells where the iridium slugs are located.
 59. Theretinal color prosthesis as in claim 58 wherein the iridium slugs aresituated with the insulating wells, fitting against the walls or thewell.
 60. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 58 wherein theiridium slugs are situated with the insulating wells recessedapproximately symmetrically from the sides of the wells.
 61. The retinalcolor prosthesis as in claim 60 wherein the iridium slugs are situatedwithin said openings in said covering material; and wherein said slugsare fitted against the sides of the wells.
 62. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 60 wherein the iridium slugs are situated withinsaid openings in said covering material; wherein said slugs are recessedsymmetrically from the walls of said openings.
 63. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 62 wherein the iridium slugs are differentlysituated relative to the tops of the wells, standing flush with the fullheight of the wells or recessed below the well tops; the depth of thewell ranges from 0.1 μm to 1 mm.
 64. The retinal color prosthesis as inclaim 1 further comprising a iridium electrode which is attached onto afoil selected from the group consisting of platinum foil or iridium foilthat acts to hermetically seal the area it covers; said foil glued to analuminum pad with electrically conductive glue; said aluminum paddeposited on a silicon substrate which may also support electroniccircuitry; a titanium ring, sputtered, plated, ion implanted, ion-beamassisted deposited (IBAD) or otherwise attached to the platinum oriridium foil; with an insulating layer adhered to the titanium ring;wherein the insulation material is selected from the group consisting ofsilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
 65. The retinal color prosthesis asin claim 1 further comprising a titanium nitride electrode which issputtered onto a platinum or iridium foil that acts to hermetically sealthe area it covers, said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electricallyconductive glue, said aluminum pad deposited on a silicon substratewhich may also support electronic circuitry, a titanium ring, sputtered,plated, ion implanted, or ion-beam assisted deposited (IBAD) to attachit to the platinum or iridium foil, with an insulating layer adhered tothe titanium ring; wherein the insulation material is selected from thegroup consisting of silicon nitride/silicon oxide sandwich, siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicone,zirconium oxide, silicone, parylene, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) andFEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene).
 66. The retinal color prosthesisas in claim 64 or claim 65 wherein an platinum layer is plated onto theexposed part of the titanium ring and plated onto the layer of asubstance selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide andzirconium oxide, the platinum layer acting as an electrical conductor.67. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 65 wherein the platinumelectrode is internal to the well formed by a substance selected fromthe group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, siliconnitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalumoxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene andwaxes, and its titanium ring; said electrode whole angle at it's peakbeing in the range from 1° to 120°; the base of said conical orpyramidal electrode ranging from 1 μm to 500 μm; the linear section ofthe well unoccupied by said conical or pyramidal electrode ranging fromzero to one-third.
 68. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 65wherein the platinum electrode has a mushroom-like shape with a narrowerstalk and a larger head which has a larger plan view area than the wellfrom which it arises.
 69. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1wherein hermetic sealing a component of said retinal color prosthesis isaccomplished by coating the object to be hermetically'sealed selectedfrom the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating,silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene andwaxes.
 70. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim 1 wherein hermeticsealing of a component of said retinal prosthesis is accomplished byplacing it in a metal and ceramic box of rectangular cross-section withthe top side and bottom side initially open, the bottom being a materialselected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide;the top and four sides being a metal selected from the group consistingof platinum, iridium, gold, and stainless steel.
 71. The retinal colorprosthesis as in claim 70 further comprising solder balls placed on the“flip chip”, which electrically contact metal feedthroughs made of ametal selected from the group iridium, platinum, titanium, palladium,gold, and stainless steel.
 72. The retinal color prosthesis as in claim71 wherein the metal-ceramic case empty of electronic circuitry, theceramic base attachment to the metal sides is by brazing; with theflip-chip circuitry inside the metal-ceramic case, the metal top standsattached to the metal sides by laser welding.
 73. An eye-motioncompensation system comprising a. an eye-movement tracking apparatus; b.said eye-movement-tracking system measuring eye position, and time; c.wherein said measurements are converted to information signals by theeye-movement tracking apparatus; d. wherein said information signals arechosen from the group consisting of electromagnetic signals, acousticalsignals, and light signals; e. wherein said information signals aretransmitted by a transmitter on the eye-movement tracking apparatus to areceiver on the video data processing unit; f. said video data processorunit interprets eye movement measurements over time as angularpositions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations; g. said eyeposition, velocity, acceleration data is further processed by the videodata processing unit; wherein feedback information is provided to thevideo data processor; wherein compensation, stabilization and adjustmentfor the motion of the eye is provided to an electronic image, from animager carried by a patient; wherein said image is presentable to theretina by way of an internal-to-the-eye implant.
 74. A head motioncompensation system comprising a head motion tracking system wherein themotion and position of the head is sensed by a basic sensor selectedfrom the group consisting of an integrating accelerometer, amicro-machined mechanical gyroscope, a laser gyroscope, a combination ofan integrating accelerometer and a micro-machined mechanical gyroscope;a combination of an integrating accelerometer and a laser gyroscope; themotion and position of the head is determined by said basic sensor;wherein the data are communicated from the head tracking system to thevideo data processing unit by telemetry; wherein the data are processedin the video data processor; and wherein said video data processing unitcan process the data of the motion of the eye as well as that of thehead to further adjust the image electronically whereby the electronicdata image is presented to the patient adjusted for eye motion and headmotion.
 75. A physician's control unit comprising a unit locatedexternal to the eye of a patient; a first transceiver located in thephysician's control unit; a second transceiver located in theinternal-to-the-eye of the patient retinal color prosthesis implant;said physician's control unit transceiver transmits information whichcontrols the image data parameters of the image supplied by externalimager; and wherein the physician's control unit receives informationwhich said implanted inside the patient's eye transmits out of the eye.76. The apparatus of claim 75 further comprising said physician'scontrol unit wherein the physician sets control parameters of the imagedata signal such as maximum and minimum amplitudes, range of pulsewidths, range of frequencies, and electrode patterns of electricalstimulation.
 77. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein said physician'scontrol unit receives and monitors said transmitted-out, of thepatient's eye, information including electrode current, electrodeimpedance, compliance voltage, and electrical recordings from theretina.
 78. A physician's hand-held or palm-size test unit comprising ahand-held computer used to set up and evaluate a retinal colorprosthesis implant during or soon after implantation at the patient'sbedside; a transceiver in the hand-held test unit; a transceiver in theretinal color prosthesis internal-to-the-eye implant; said hand-heldtest unit having the capability of receiving signals which aretransmitted out of the eye of the patient and having the ability to sendinformation in to the retinal implant electronic chip; said hand-heldcomputer able to adjust the amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time,or in groups.
 79. A patient's control unit comprising a unit locatedexternal to the patient's eye and normally carried by the patient,including but not limited to, on a belt, that has patient accessiblecontrols; said controls controlling apparent brightness, apparentcontrast, and apparent magnification as presented to the patient'sperception by the retinal color prosthesis; said patient's control unithaving electronic circuits and components; wherein upon remote command,will respond in a manner similar to that of said physician's local unit;and which has a transmitter and a receiver for remote communication. 80.An electrode apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes hermeticallysealed by a coating of hermetic sealant; wherein said hermetic coatingsealant is made from a material selected from the group consisting ofsilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide.
 81. The apparatus of claim 80 furthercomprising said electrodes from a material selected from the groupconsisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium nitride, platinum, iridium, andiridium oxide.
 82. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising saidplurality of electrodes insulated along their extension, up to theirtips.
 83. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising said insulationselected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-likecoating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titaniumoxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconiumoxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylenepropylene and waxes.
 84. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprisingsaid plurality of electrodes partially insulated.
 85. The apparatus ofclaim 84 further comprising electrodes recessed within an insulator. 86.The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the electrode surfaces are flat. 87.The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the insulating surfaces form a curvedsurface such as will conform to the curvature of the retina at itsdesignated placement point.
 88. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein theelectrodes are recessed within the insulator, but the sides of theelectrodes are exposed.
 89. The apparatus in claim 80 wherein saidelectrodes are capacitive electrodes.
 90. The apparatus in claim 89wherein said capacitive electrodes are selected as a pair from the groupof pairs consisting of iridium and iridium oxide, and, titanium andtitanium nitride.
 91. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein said electrodesare elongated electrodes, from 100 microns to 500 microns in length. 92.The apparatus of claim 84 wherein said plurality of electrodes are,being of relative positive polarity, arranged in a unipolar arrangement,with the relative ground electrode on the insulated back of theelectrode assembly.
 93. The apparatus in claim 84 further comprisingsaid plurality of electrodes in a bipolar arrangement.
 94. The apparatusin claim 84 further comprising said plurality of electrodes in amultipolar arrangement.
 95. The apparatus of claim 94 further comprisingsaid plurality of electrodes in an electric field focusing arrangement.96. The apparatus of claim 84 further comprising a coating of aneurotrophic factor on the surface of the electrodes.
 97. The apparatusas in claim 96 further comprising a coating of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)on the surface of the electrodes.
 98. The apparatus of claim 84 furthercomprising a coating of a neurotrophic factor on the surface of theinsulator near the electrodes.
 99. The apparatus as in claim 98 furthercomprising a coating of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) on the surface of theinsulator near the electrodes.
 100. A retinal electrode array coatingcomprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surface of theelectrodes.
 101. The retinal electrode array coating as in claim 100further comprising a coating of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) on the surfaceof the electrodes.
 102. The retinal electrode array coating as in claim1100 further comprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surfaceof the insulator near the electrodes.
 103. The retinal electrode arraycoating as in claim 100 further comprising a coating of Nerve GrowthFactor (NGF) on the surface of the insulator near the electrodes. 104.An eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem comprising one or moreelectronic circuits hermetically sealed wherein said hermetic sealant ismade from a coating selected from the group consisting of siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide incombination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminumoxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinatedethylene propylene and waxes.
 105. The eye-implantable electroniccircuit subsystem of claim 104 wherein a hermetic sealant is selectedfrom the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating,silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide;and wherein said sealant is applied to an eye-implantable electroniccircuit subsystem by ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD).
 106. Theeye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem of claim 104 furthercomprising said internal component having a configuration of two or morephysically separate parts wherein insulated wires join said parts,wherein at least one of said two or more physically separate parts ofthe internal component is configured as an electronic component and atleast one of the other of said two or more separate parts of theinternal component is configured as an electrode component.
 107. Theeye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem of claim 106 furthercomprising: a. an at least one electrode component at least partiallyimplanted subretinally; and b. an at least one electronic component atleast partially implanted epiretinally.
 108. The eye-implantableelectronic circuit subsystem of claim 104 further comprising: a. an atleast one electrode component implanted epiretinally; and b. an at leastone electronic component fastened subretinally.
 109. The eye-implantableelectronic circuit subsystem of claim 104 further comprising at leastone said electronics component, in a position distant from at least onesaid electrode component, both said components within the eye.
 110. Theeye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem of claim 109 furthercomprising an insulated conducting coil attached to one electroniccomponent by both ends of said coil.
 111. The eye-implantable electroniccircuit subsystem of claim 110 further comprising said coil attached tosaid electronic component, each end of the insulated conducting coilattached to an electrically different attachment point on saidelectronic component.
 112. The eye-implantable electronic circuitsubsystem of claim 104 further comprising a plurality of said insulatedconducting coils attached to at least one electronic component by bothends of said coil.
 113. The eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystemof claim 112 further comprising a plurality of said insulated conductingcoils attached to at least one said electronic component, each end ofthe insulated conducting coil attached to an electrically differentattachment point on said electronic component.
 114. The eye-implantableelectronic circuit subsystem of claim 113 further comprising aninsulated conducting coil attached to one electrode component by bothends of said coil.
 115. The eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystemof claim 114 further comprising said coil attached to said electrodecomponent, each end of the insulated conducting coil attached to anelectrically different attachment point on said electrode component.116. The eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem of claim 115further comprising a plurality of said insulated conducting coilsattached to at least one of said electrode components by both ends ofsaid coil.
 117. The eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem ofclaim 115 further comprising a plurality of said coils attached to saidelectrode component, each end of said insulated conducting coil attachedto an electrically different attachment point on said electrodecomponent.
 118. An eye-implantable subsystem comprising a configurationof two physically separate parts wherein insulated wires join saidparts.
 119. The eye-implantable subsystem as in claim 118 furthercomprising one of said two separate parts of the internal component thatis configured as a combined electronic and electrode component and theother of said two separate parts of the internal component which is alsoconfigured as a combined electronic and electrode component.
 120. Theeye-implantable subsystem as in claim 119 further comprising one of saidcombined electronic and electrode components subretinally positioned andthe other of said combined electronic and electrode componentsepiretinally positioned so as to efficiently stimulate bipolar andassociated cells in the retina.
 121. The eye-implantable subsystem as inclaim 120 further comprising one of said two physically separate partsof the eye-implantable subsystem that is configured as an electroniccomponent; and wherein the other of said two physically separate partsof the eye-implantable subsystem is configured as an electrodecomponent.
 122. The eye-implantable subsystem as in claim 121 furthercomprising at least one electrode component subretinally positioned andat least one electronic component epiretinally positioned.
 123. Theeye-implantable subsystem as in claim 122 further comprising at leastone electronics component in a position distant, within the eye, fromsaid electrode component; wherein said electrode component is placednear the retina; whereby the relatively high heat dissipation ofelectronic component has a minimal effect on the heat sensitive retina.124. The eye-implantable subsystem as in claim 123 further comprising atleast one electronics component in a position centrally within thevitreous cavity.
 125. An eye-implantable subsystem for inductivelytransferring electromagnetic energy into and out from an electroniccomponent located internally in the eye, comprising: a. a coil externalto a patient; b. two insulated conducting coils, both located within theocular orbit; c. one free end of a first coil Joined to one free end ofa second coil; d. a second free end of said first coil joined to asecond free end of said second coil; e. a third coil attached integrallyto an internal electronic component located within the eye; f. saidsecond coil located in proximity to said third coil. g. wherein saidfirst coil is inductively coupled by a changing electromagnetic field inthe coil external to the patient; wherein said first coil iselectrically connected to the second coil whereby the current in thesecond coil conforms to the current in the first coil; wherein saidsecond coil is inductively coupled to said third coil by a secondchanging electromagnetic field; whereby a current produced in the thirdcoil supplies energy to the electronic component located within the eye;h. wherein a changing current supplied to the third coil by theelectronic component within the eye produces a changing electromagneticfield in said third coil; wherein said third coil is inductively coupledto the second coil; wherein said second coil is electrically connectedto said first coil; whereby a changing electromagnetic field is producedby the first coil; i. wherein said first coil produces a changingelectromagnetic field which can inductively couple to said coil externalto the patient.
 126. The eye-implantable subsystem of claim 125 whereinthe position of said second coil is toward the lens of the eye; and saidfirst coil is toward the front of the eye.
 127. The eye-implantablesubsystem of claim 126 wherein said second coil is positioned toward theretina of the eye; and said first coil is positioned toward the front ofthe eye.
 128. An apparatus which transfers acoustic energy andinformation into and out from an electronic component located internallyin the eye, comprising: a. a first acoustical bi-directional transducerlocated within the eye; b. wherein said bi-directional transducer actsas a transmitter and a receiver of acoustical energy; c. a secondbi-directional acoustical transducer located on an external unit worn onthe head; d. wherein said bi-directional transducer acts as atransmitter and a receiver of acoustical energy; e. acoustic signalinformation and acoustic energy transmitted from one of said transducersis received by other of said transducers; f. each of said acousticaltransducers receives and amplifies a received signal and received power;g. each of said acoustical transducers converts the received signal andthe received power to an electrical signal and to electrical power. 129.A method for making a retinal prosthetic for color sight restorationcomprising the steps of: a. imaging with a color imager to capture colorimage, said color imaging being part of an external component, which iscarried by the patient; b. processing video data with a video dataprocessing unit for converting said image to electrical signals whichcontain image color signal data, said color imaging being part of saidexternal component, which is carried by the patient; c. implantinginternal to the eye a component which has a plurality of electrodes andone or more electronic circuits; d. communicating between the externalreceiver and transmitter and the internal receiver and transmitter forcommunication between the external component and the internal component;e. configuring said electronic circuits to receive color signalinformation from the video data processing unit, activate the electrodesbased on said color signal information and extract electrical power fromthe received signal; f. configuring said electrodes to stimulate bipolarcells of the retina electrically.
 130. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of processing data with a video dataprocessing unit which converts said color image to electrical signalscorresponding to data for a pixel or grid-like arrangement of electrodesplaced within the eye.
 131. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the step of compensating for eye-motion with an eye-motioncompensation system.
 132. The method as in claim 131 comprising thesteps of: a. tracking eye-movements; b. measuring eye movements; c.transmitting said measurements to video data processor unit;interpreting eye movement measurements as angular positions, angularvelocities, and angular accelerations; d. processing eye position,velocity, acceleration data by the video data processing unit; e.compensating, stabilizing and adjusting image electronically.
 133. Themethod as in claim 132 further comprising the steps of, for a headtracking system, determining the motion and position of the head by anapparatus selected from the group consisting of an inertial unit with anintegrating accelerometer, a laser gyroscope, and a combined inertialunit (with an integrating accelerometer) together with a lasergyroscope; processing the data in the video data processor;communicating the data from the head tracking system to the video dataprocessing unit by telemetry.
 134. The method as in claim 133 furthercomprising the steps of processing video data image and other datarelated to said image signal data, including electronic compensation forthe motion of the eye(s) and including electronic compensation for themotion of the head; utilizing said video data processing unit.
 135. Themethod as in claim 129 further comprising the steps of monitoring andadjusting, upon external command, data to and from the internal retinalimplants using programmable external and internal units.
 136. The methodas in claim 129 further comprising the steps of, for a physician'scontrol unit, locating a unit external to the eye; controllinginformation supplied by external image signal data at physician'schoice; and receiving diagnostic which an implanted unit inside the eyetransmits out of the eye.
 137. The method as in claim 136 furthercomprising the steps of controlling and setting the parameters, by thephysician, of the image data signal such as amplitudes, pulse widths,frequencies, and patterns of electrical stimulation.
 138. The method asin claim 136 further comprising the steps of receiving and monitoringsaid transmitted-out information including electrode current, electrodeimpedance, compliance voltage, and electrical recordings from theretina, utilizing the physician's control unit.
 139. The method as inclaim 129 further comprising the steps of, for a physician's hand-heldunit, setting up and evaluating a retinal color prosthesis implant soonafter the implantation, at the patient's bedside utilizing a handheldcomputer-based unit; receiving signals transmitted out of the eye;transmitting information in to the retinal color implant electronicchip; adjusting the amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time, or ingroups; determining success of the retinal implant.
 140. The method asin claim 129 further comprising the steps of, for a patient's controlunit, controlling apparent brightness, contrast, and magnificationutilizing a unit external to the eye; managing the controls by thepatient.
 141. The method as in claim 130 further comprising the steps ofencoding and transmitting time sequences and widths of pulses forsignaling color to bipolar cells, using said video data processing unit.142. The method as in claim 130 further comprising the steps of:processing video data; encoding electrical signal information forsignaling color to the different bipolar cells utilizing the video dataprocessor, in a planar pattern, corresponding to the location ofelectrodes in the vicinity of the individual bipolar cells, includingred-center-green surround, green-center-red-surround, blue-center-yellowsurround and yellow-center-blue-surround bipolar cells.
 143. The methodas in claim 129 further comprising the steps of hermetically sealing andpartially insulating one or more electrode subpart(s).
 144. The methodas in claim 129 further comprising the step of hermetically sealing oneor more electronic circuit subpart(s).
 145. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of transferring received processed imagedata to the electrodes by utilizing electronic circuits within the eye.146. The method as in claim 145 further comprising the step of applyingreceived color signal information to a plurality of electrodes,corresponding to the original external pixel-like scene capture;utilizing electronic circuits.
 147. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the steps of measuring and transmitting out of the eye thesignal power level being received internally; utilizing electroniccircuits.
 148. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the stepsof measuring and transmitting out of the eye an impedance for each ofthe different electrodes; utilizing electronic circuits.
 149. The methodas in claim 129 further comprising the steps of measuringelectrophysiologic retinal recordings and transmitting them out of theeye; utilizing electronic circuits.
 150. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of implanting fully subretinally saidinternal component.
 151. The method as in claim 129 further comprisingthe step of implanting epiretinally said internal component.
 152. Themethod as in claim 129 further comprising the step of configuring saidplurality of electrodes in a monopolar arrangement.
 153. The method asin claim 129 further comprising the step of configuring said pluralityof electrodes in a bipolar arrangement.
 154. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of configuring said plurality of electrodesin a multipolar arrangement.
 155. The method as in claim 155 furthercomprising the step of configuring said plurality of electrodes in anelectric field focusing arrangement.
 156. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of selecting said plurality of electrodescomprises a substance from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon,titanium nitride, platinum, iridium, and iridium oxide.
 157. The methodas in claim 143 or claim 144 further comprising the step of selecting anhermetic sealant coating substance from the group consisting of siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide incombination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminumoxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinatedethylene propylene and waxes.
 158. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the step of insulating said plurality of electrodes alongtheir extension, up to their tips.
 159. The method as in claim 158further comprising the step of selecting said insulation from the groupconsisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride andsilicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminumnitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene andwaxes.
 160. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the step ofselecting a pair of substances to form a plurality of capacitiveelectrodes, the group of pairs consisting of the pairs iridium andiridium oxide, and, titanium and titanium nitride.
 161. The method as inclaim 129 further comprising the step of mounting a plurality ofcapacitors on the electrode substrate in a one-to-one correspondencewith the plurality of electrodes.
 162. The method as in claim 129further comprising the step of configuring said internal component intotwo separate parts wherein insulated wires join said parts.
 163. Themethod as in claim 162 further comprising the steps of configuring oneof said two separate parts of the internal component as a combinedelectronic and electrode component and configuring the other of said twoseparate parts of the internal component as a combined electronic andelectrode component.
 164. The method as in claim 163 further comprisingthe steps of positioning one of said combined electronic and electrodecomponent subretinally and positioning the other of said combinedelectronic and electrode component epiretinally.
 165. The method as inclaim 164 further comprising the step of holding said two componentspositioned in a prescribed relationship to each other by small magnets.166. The method as in claim 164 further comprising the step of holdingsaid two components in a prescribed relationship to each other byalignment pins.
 167. The method as in claim 164 further comprising thestep of holding said two components positioned in a prescribedrelationship to each other by snap-together mating parts.
 168. Themethod as in claim 162 further comprising the steps of configuring oneof said two separate parts of the internal component as an electroniccomponent and configuring the other of said two separate parts of theinternal component as an electrode component.
 169. The method as inclaim 168 further comprising the steps of positioning said electrodecomponent subretinally and said positioning said electronic componentepiretinally.
 170. The method as in claim 169 further comprising thesteps of placing said electrode component near the retina; and placingsaid electronics component in a position distant, within the eye, fromsaid electrode component.
 171. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the steps of attaching an insulated conducting coil to theinternal component, attaching each end of the coil to an electricallydifferent attachment point on said internal component.
 172. The methodas in claim 171 further comprising the steps of joining two insulatedcoils, the first larger, and the second smaller, joining one free end ofthe first coil to one free end of the second coil, joining the otherfree end of said first coil to the other free end of said second coil,placing said smaller coil in proximity to a coil attached to saidinternal component, positioning and fastening said larger coil towardthe lens of the eye.
 173. The method as in claim 129 further comprisingthe steps of building an internal component in two parts, the first partan electronics part, the second part an electronics and electrode part;integrating an insulated conducting pick-up coil into each of the firstand second internal component parts; joining two insulated conductingcoils, one larger, and the second smaller, joining one free end of thefirst larger coil to one free end of the second smaller coil, joiningthe other free end of said first larger coil to the other free end ofsaid second smaller coil, attaching said second smaller coil inproximity to said coil integrated to the first internal part; locatingsaid first internal part in the fatty tissue behind the eye; locatingthe second internal part within the eye; attaching said larger coil tothe temporal region of the head, in the vicinity of the eye.
 174. Themethod as in claim 129 further comprising the step of coating aneurotrophic factor onto the surface of the electrodes.
 175. The methodas in claim 174 further comprising the step of coating a Nerve GrowthFactor (NGF) on the surface of the electrodes.
 176. The method as inclaim 129 further comprising the step of coating a neurotrophic factoron the surface of the insulator near the electrodes.
 177. The method asin claim 176 further comprising the step of coating a Nerve GrowthFactor (NGF) on the surface of the insulator near the electrodes. 178.The method as in claim 129 further comprising the step of partiallyinsulating said plurality of electrodes.
 179. The method as in claim 178further comprising the step of recessing electrodes within an insulator.180. The method as in claim 179 further comprising the step of formingthe electrodes with flat surfaces.
 181. The method as in claim 179further comprising the step of forming the insulating surfaces as acurved surface; conforming said curvature to the curvature of the retinaat its designated placement point.
 182. The method as in claim 179further comprising the steps of recessing the electrodes within theinsulator; and exposing the sides of the electrodes.
 183. The method asin claim 129 further comprising the step of fabricating elongatedelectrodes from 100 microns to 500 microns in length.
 184. The method asin claim 129 further comprising the step of attaching iridium slugelectrodes to a substrate by conductive adhesive.
 185. The method as inclaim 184 further comprising the step of covering the substrate withaluminum or zirconium oxide or silicone; leaving openings where theiridium slugs are located.
 186. The method as in claim 185 furthercomprising the steps of situating the iridium slugs, one-to-one, withinsaid openings, in said covering material; fitting said iridium slugsagainst the walls of said openings.
 187. The method as in claim 185further comprising the steps of situating the iridium slugs, one-to-one,within said openings in said covering material; and recessing saidiridium slugs symmetrically from the walls of said openings.
 188. Themethod as in claim 186 or in claim 187 further comprising the step ofsituating said iridium slugs to stand with their tops flush with thetops of the openings where the depth of the openings range from 0.1 μmto 1 mm.
 189. The method as in claim 186 or in claim 187 furthercomprising the step of situating said iridium slugs to stand with theirtops recessed below the top of the openings where the depth of theopenings range from 0.1 μm to 1 mm.
 190. The method as in claim 189further comprising the step of constructing a iridium electrodeassembly, further comprising the steps of depositing an aluminum pad ona silicon substrate, which may also support electronic circuitry;electroplating iridium onto a foil selected from the group consisting ofplatinum or iridium foil; sealing the area said foil covers hermeticallyby said foil, gluing said foil to said aluminum pad with electricallyconductive glue; attaching, sputtering, plating, ion implanting, orion-beam assisted depositing (IBAD) a titanium ring, to the platinum oriridium foil; adhering an insulating layer to the titanium ring, whereinsulation material is selected from the group consisting of siliconcarbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide incombination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminumoxide and zirconium oxide.
 191. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the step of constructing a titanium electrode assembly,further comprising the steps of depositing an aluminum pad on a siliconsubstrate, which may also support electronic circuitry; electroplatingtitanium onto a platinum or iridium foil; sealing the area said foilcovers hermetically by said foil, gluing said foil to said aluminum padwith electrically conductive glue; attaching, sputtering, plating, ionimplanting, ion-beam assisted depositing (IBAD) a titanium ring, to theplatinum or iridium foil; adhering an insulating layer to the titaniumring, where insulation material is selected from the group consisting ofsilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
 192. The method as in claim 190 orclaim 191 further comprising the step of plating an aluminum layer ontothe exposed part of the titanium ring and onto a material selected fromthe group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, siliconnitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalumoxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide, saidaluminum layer acting as an electrical conductor.
 193. The method as inclaim 191 further comprising the steps of forming said platinumelectrode internal to the well formed by a substance selected from thegroup consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, siliconnitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalumoxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide, and itstitanium ring; fabricating said electrode with its whole peak angle inthe range from 1° to 120°; forming the base of said conical or pyramidalelectrode in the range from 1 μm to 500 μm; forming the linear sectionof the well unoccupied by said conical or pyramidal electrode in therange ranging from zero to one-third of the whole linear section. 194.The method as in claim 191 further comprising the steps of forming theplatinum electrode with a mushroom-like shape with a narrower stalk;constructing said electrode head with a larger plan view area than thewell from which it arises.
 195. The method as in claim 129 furthercomprising the step of hermetically sealing a component of said retinalcolor prosthesis by coating said component with a substance selectedfrom the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating,silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene andwaxes.
 196. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the step ofhermetic sealing a component of said retinal color prosthesis by placingit in a metal and ceramic box of rectangular cross-section with the topside and bottom side initially open, the bottom being a ceramic selectedfrom the group consisting of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide; the topand four sides being a metal selected from the group consisting ofplatinum, iridium, palladium, gold, and stainless steel.
 197. The methodas in claim 196 further comprising the steps of placing solder balls ona “flip chip”; selecting a metal for the metal feedthroughs which thecontact the solder balls from the group iridium, platinum, titanium,palladium, gold, and stainless steel; and plating the inner surface ofthe feed-through, toward the solder ball being plated with gold or withnickel.
 198. The method as in claim 197 further comprising the steps ofbrazing the ceramic base of the metal-ceramic case to the metal sides ofsaid case with said metal-ceramic case empty of electronic circuitry;laser welding, subsequently, with the flip chip circuitry inside thecase, the metal top of said case to the metal sides of said case. 199.The method as in claim 129 further comprising the steps of compensatingfor eye motion further comprising the steps of measuring eye motion;transmitting said eye motion information to said video data processingunit; interpreting eye movements data as angular positions, angularvelocities, and angular acceleration; processing of eye position motiondata by the video data processing unit; compensating for eye movementeffects on the image by electronic compensation, stabilization andadjustment.
 200. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the stepsof receiving diagnostic information from and supplying calibration andadjustment information to said retinal color prosthetic utilizing aphysician's control unit; receiving and transmitting said informationwith said physicians control unit.
 201. The method as in claim 129further comprising the steps of the physician, or a medical technician,controlling and setting parameters of the image data signal such asamplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies, and patterns of electricalstimulation utilizing the physician's control unit.
 202. The method asin claim 129 further comprising the steps of the physician, or a medicaltechnician, is monitoring transmitted-out information includingelectrode current, electrode impedance, compliance voltage, andelectrical recordings from the retina, utilizing the physician's controlunit.
 203. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the steps ofutilizing a physician's post-operative hand held computer-based testunit to set up and to evaluate a retinal prosthesis implant during orsoon after implantation, at the patient's bedside; sending informationto and receiving information from the video data processing unitutilizing said physician's post-operative unit; sending information tothe retinal implant electronic chip; adjusting the amplitudes on eachelectrode, one at a time, or in groups utilizing said hand-heldcomputer-based test unit; and determining the success of the retinalprosthesis.
 204. The method as in claim 129 further comprising the stepsof controlling apparent brightness, controlling apparent contrast andcontrolling magnification utilizing a patient-operated patient's controlunit; locating said patient's unit external to the eye.
 205. The methodas in claim 129 further comprising the steps of utilizing a physician'sremote unit to perform all of the functions of the local physician'scontrol unit; communicating with the video data processing unit, bothtransmitting set-up and control commands, and receiving diagnostic andmonitoring information.
 206. A method for making an eye-motioncompensation system comprising the steps of: a. tracking eye-movements;b. measuring eye movements as to position and time; c. converting saidmeasurements to information signals d. transmitting said measurements tovideo data processor unit; e. interpreting eye movement measurements asangular positions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations; f.processing eye position, velocity, and acceleration data by the videodata processing unit; g. compensating, stabilizing and adjusting animager generated image, said imager carried by a patient, wherein animager generated image, presentable to the retina via aninternal-to-the-eye implant, is electronically compensated, stabilizedand adjusted for the motion of the eye.
 207. The method of claim 206further comprising the steps of: selecting a head tracking apparatusfrom the group consisting of an inertial unit with an integratingaccelerometer, a laser gyroscope, and a combined inertial unit with anintegrating accelerometer together with a laser gyroscope; determiningthe motion and position of the head by said apparatus; processing thedata from said apparatus in the video data processor; transmitting thedata from said apparatus the head tracking system to the video dataprocessing unit by telemetry; processing the data of the motion of theeye as well as that of the head; adjusting an imager generated image,presentable to the retina via an internal-to-the-eye implant,electronically; compensating, stabilized and adjusted for the motion ofthe eye and head.
 208. A method for enabling a physician to control andevaluate the parameters for a retinal color prosthesis comprising thesteps of controlling information supplied by an external-to-the-patientimage signal to an internal-to-the-eye implant; and receiving diagnosticinformation from the implant.
 209. The method of claim 208 furthercomprising the steps of the physician controlling and setting theparameters of the image data signal such as amplitudes, pulse widths,frequencies, and patterns of electrical stimulation.
 210. The method ofclaim 209 further comprising the steps of receiving and monitoringinformation from the internal-to-the-eye implant including electrodecurrent, electrode impedance, compliance voltage, and electricalrecordings from the retina.
 211. A method for enabling a physician toset up the settable parameters of and evaluate the success of a retinalcolor prosthesis implant soon after the implantation comprising thesteps of utilizing a handheld computer-based unit at the patient'sbedside; receiving signals transmitted out of the eye from aninternal-to-the-eye retinal color prosthesis implant; transmittinginformation in to the retinal color implant electronic chip component;adjusting the amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time, or in groups.212. A method for enabling a patient to control some parameters of aretinal color prosthesis comprising the steps of controlling apparentbrightness, contrast and magnification of the patient's perception;utilizing an imager to supply an electronic image signal to a video dataprocessing unit; utilizing a control unit external to the eye; pluggingsaid unit external to the eye into a mating plug on the video dataprocessing unit of said retinal processing unit; controlling patientsettable parameters by patient operated controls; resetting the videodata processing unit parameters; keeping the reset parameter settingsuntil reset by the patient or a physician.
 213. A method for making animplantable, retinal-cell stimulating electrode array comprising thestep of selecting a plurality of electrodes from the group consisting ofpyrolytic carbon, titanium nitride, platinum, iridium, and iridiumoxide.
 214. The method of claim 213 further comprising the steps ofhermetic sealing said electrode array by coating said electrode arraywith a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide,zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinatedethylene propylene and waxes.
 215. The method of claim 213 furthercomprising the step of insulating said plurality of electrodes alongtheir extension, up to their tips.
 216. The method of claim 215 furthercomprising the step of selecting said insulation from the groupconsisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride andsilicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminumnitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene andwaxes.
 217. The method of claim 213 further comprising the step ofpartially insulating said plurality of electrodes.
 218. The method ofclaim 213 further comprising the step of recessing electrodes within aninsulator.
 219. The method of claim 218 further comprising the step ofconstructing the electrode surfaces as flat surfaces flush with thebottom of the insulator recess.
 220. The method of claim 219 furthercomprising the step of conforming the curvature of the insulatingsurfaces to the curvature of the retina at the designated placement areaof the insulating surface.
 221. The method of claim 218 furthercomprising the steps of recessing the electrodes within the insulator;and exposing the sides of the electrodes.
 222. The method of claim 213further comprising the step of constructing said electrodes ascapacitive electrodes.
 223. The method of claim 222 further comprisingthe step of selecting said capacitive electrodes as a pair from thegroup of pairs consisting of iridium and iridium oxide, and, titaniumand titanium nitride.
 224. The method of claim 213 further comprisingthe step of producing said electrodes as elongated electrodes, from 100microns to 500 microns in length.
 225. The method of claim 213 furthercomprising the step of arranging said plurality of electrodes, in aunipolar arrangement, with the indifferent electrode on the insulatedback of the electrode assembly.
 226. The method of claim 213 furthercomprising the step of arranging said plurality of electrodes in abipolar arrangement.
 227. The method of claim 213 further comprising thestep of arranging said plurality of electrodes in a multipolararrangement.
 228. The method of claim 227 further comprising the step ofarranging said plurality of electrodes in an electric field focusingarrangement.
 229. The method of claim 213 further comprising the step ofcoating a neurotrophic factor on the surface of the electrodes.
 230. Themethod of claim 229 further comprising the step of coating a NerveGrowth Factor (NGF) on the surface of the electrodes.
 231. The method ofclaim 213 further comprising the step of coating a neurotrophic factoron the surface of the insulator near the electrodes.
 232. The method ofclaim 231 further comprising the step of coating a Nerve Growth Factor(NGF) on the surface of the insulator near the electrodes.
 233. A methodfor a neurotrophic coating comprising the step of coating an electrodearray with a neurotrophic factor on the surface of the electrodes. 234.The method for a neurotrophic coating of claim 233 further comprisingthe step of coating Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) on the surface of theelectrodes.
 235. The method for a neurotrophic coating of claim 233further comprising the step of coating a neurotrophic factor on thesurface of the insulator near the electrodes.
 236. The method for aneurotrophic coating of claim 23 further comprising the step of coatingNerve Growth Factor (NGF) on the surface of the insulator near theelectrodes.
 237. A method for making an eye-implantable electroniccircuit system comprising the steps of hermetically sealing one or moreelectronic circuits with a coating selected from the group consisting ofsilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP(fluorinated ethylene propylene and waxes.
 238. The method of claim 237further comprising the step of configuring said eye-implantableelectronic circuit system as two or more separate parts whereininsulated wires join said parts.
 239. The method of claim 238 furthercomprising the steps of configuring at least one of said two or moreseparate parts of the eye-implantable electronic circuit system as apredominantly electronic component and configuring at least one of theother of said two or more separate parts of the eye-implantableelectronic circuit system as an electrode component.
 240. The method ofclaim 239 further comprising the steps of: a. implanting at least onesaid electrode component at least partially subretinally; and b.implanting at least one said electronic component at least partiallyepiretinally.
 241. The method of claim 239 further comprising the stepsof: a. implanting at least one said electrode component; and b.implanting at least one said electronic component subretinally.
 242. Themethod of claim 241 further comprising at least one said electronicscomponent, in a position distant, in the eye, from at least one saidelectrode component, in the eye, positioned near the retina.
 243. Themethod of claim 241 further comprising the step of positioning at leastone electronics component in a position centrally within the vitreouscavity.
 244. A method for constructing a coil system for driving aretinal color prosthetic internal-to-the eye electronic implantcomponent comprising the step of attaching an insulated conducting coilto an internal-to-the-eye electronic implant component by both ends ofsaid coil.
 245. The method of claim 244 further comprising the steps ofattaching said coil to an electronic internal component; attaching eachend of the insulated conducting coil to an electrically differentattachment point on said electronic component.
 246. The method of claim244 further comprising the step of attaching a plurality of insulatedconducting coils to at least one electronic component by both ends ofsaid coils.
 247. The method of claim 244 further comprising the steps ofattaching a plurality of insulated conducting coils to at least oneelectronic internal component; attaching each end of said insulatedconducting coils to an electrically different attachment point on atleast one said electronic internal component.
 248. The method for a coilsystem of claim 244 further comprising the step of attaching aninsulated conducting coil to an electrode internal component by bothends of said coil.
 249. The method of claim 248 further comprising thesteps of attaching said coil to said electrode internal component;attaching each end of the coil to an electrically different attachmentpoint on said electrode internal component.
 250. The method of claim 249further comprising the step of attaching a plurality of said insulatedconducting coils to at least one electrode internal component by bothends of said coil.
 251. The method of claim 250 further comprising thesteps of attaching a plurality of said coils to said electrode internalcomponent; attaching each end of the insulated conducting coil to anelectrically different attachment point on said electrode internalcomponent.
 252. The method of claim 244 further comprising the steps: a.locating two insulated conducting coils located within the ocular orbit;b. joining a first free end of a first coil to a first free end of thesecond coil; c. joining a second free end of said first coil to a secondfree end of said second coil; d. attaching integrally a third coil to aninternal electronic part located within the eye; e. locating said secondcoil in proximity to said third coil.
 253. The method of claim 252further comprising the steps of positioning said second coil toward thelens of the eye; and positioning said first coil toward the front of theeye.
 254. The method of claim 253 further comprising the steps ofpositioning said second coil toward the retina of the eye; andpositioning said first coil toward the front of the eye.
 255. A methodfor an acoustical energy and information transfer which transfersacoustic energy and information from and to a retinal color prosthesisinternal-to-the-eye electronic implant component located internally inthe eye, comprising the steps of: a. locating an acoustical transducerin the eye; b. locating an acoustical transducer on an external unitworn on the head; c. transmitting acoustic signal information andacoustic energy from the first and from the second of said transducers;d. receiving acoustical signal information and acoustical energy by thesecond and by the first transducers; e. amplifying said receivedacoustical signal information and acoustical power by said acousticaltransducers.
 256. An apparatus which transfers light energy andinformation into an electronic component located internally in the eye,comprising: a. a photogenerator located externally to the eye; wherein amodulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal; b.a photodetector located on the internally located electronic component;c. light energy and information transmitted by the photogenerator; d.light information and energy received by the photodetector; wherein themodulated light signal is turned into a modulated electrical signal; e.an electronic component located internally to the eye; wherein energyand information are extracted from the electrical signal.
 257. Anapparatus which transfers light energy and information out from anelectronic component located internally in the eye, comprising: a. aphotogenerator located internally to the eye on an electronic component;wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated lightsignal; d. a photodetector located externally located externally to theeye; e. light energy and information transmitted by the photogenerator;f. light information and energy received by the photodetector; whereinthe plurality of modulated light signals is turned into a plurality ofmodulated electrical signals; g. at least one electronic circuit locatedexternally to the eye; wherein energy and information are extracted fromthe electrical signal;
 258. An apparatus which transfers light energyand information into and out from an electronic component locatedinternally in the eye, comprising: a. a photogenerator locatedexternally to the eye; wherein a modulated electrical signal is turnedinto a modulated light signal; b. a photodetector located on theinternally located electronic component; c. a photogenerator locatedinternally to the eye on an electronic component; wherein a modulatedelectrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal; d. aphotodetector located externally located externally to the eye; e. lightenergy and information transmitted by a plurality of photogenerators; f.light information and energy received by a plurality of photodetectors;wherein the plurality of modulated light signals is turned into aplurality of modulated electrical signals; h. at least one electroniccircuit located externally to the eye; wherein energy and informationare extracted from the electrical signal; i. an electrical componentlocated internally to the eye; wherein energy and information areextracted from the electrical signal. j. said external photogeneratordisposed as to send light information and energy to the internalphotodetector; k. said internal light generator disposed so as to sendlight information and energy to the external photodetector.
 259. Amethod for light energy and information transfer, which transfers lightenergy into an electronic component, located internally in the eye,comprising the steps of: a. locating a photogenerator externally to theeye; wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulatedlight signal; b. locating a photodetector on the internally locatedelectronic component; c. transmitting light energy and information fromthe photogenerator; d. receiving light information and energy by thephotodetector; wherein the modulated light signal is turned into amodulated electrical signal; e. locating an electrical componentinternally to the eye; extracting energy and information from theelectrical signal.
 260. A method for light energy and informationtransfer, which transfers light energy out of an electronic component,located internally in the eye, comprising the steps of: a. locating aphotogenerator internally to the eye on an electronic component; turninga modulated electrical signal into a modulated light signal; b. locatinga photodetector externally to the eye; c. transmitting light energy andinformation from the photogenerator; d. receiving light information andenergy from the photodetector; turning the modulated light signal intoturned a modulated electrical signal; e. locating at least oneelectronic circuit externally to the eye; extracting energy andinformation from the electrical signal;
 261. A method for light energyand information transfer, which transfers light energy into and out ofan electronic component, located internally in the eye, comprising thesteps of: a. locating a photogenerator externally to the eye; turning amodulated electrical signal into a modulated light signal; b. locating aphotodetector on the internally located electronic component; c.locating a photogenerator internally to the eye on an electroniccomponent; turning a modulated electrical signal into a modulated lightsignal; d. locating a photodetector externally to the eye; e.transmitting light energy and information from a plurality of lightgenerators; f. receiving light information and energy by a plurality ofphotodetectors; turning the plurality of modulated light signals into aplurality of modulated electrical signals; g. locating at least oneelectronic circuit externally to the eye; extracting energy andinformation from the electrical signal; h. locating an electricalcomponent internally to the eye; extracting energy and information fromthe electrical signal. i. disposing said external photogenerator so asto send light information and energy to the internal photodetector; j.disposing said internal light generator so as to send light informationand energy to the external photodetector.
 262. An iridium electrode fora retinal color prosthesis comprising an iridium electrode which isattached onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum foiland iridium foil that acts to hermetically seal the area it covers; saidfoil glued to an aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue; saidaluminum pad deposited on a silicon substrate which may also supportelectronic circuitry; a titanium ring, sputtered, plated, ion implanted,ion beam assisted deposited (27) or otherwise attached to the platinumor iridium foil; with an insulating layer adhered to the titanium ring,where insulation material is selected from the group consisting ofsilicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxidein combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride,aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
 263. A titanium nitride electrodefor a retinal color prosthesis comprising a titanium nitride electrodewhich is sputtered onto a foil selected from the group consisting ofplatinum foil and iridium foil that acts to hermetically seal the areait covers; said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electricallyconductive glue; said aluminum pad deposited on a silicon substratewhich may also support electronic circuitry; a titanium ring, sputtered,plated, ion implanted, ion-beam assisted deposited (IBAD) or otherwiseattached to the platinum or iridium foil; with an insulating layeradhered to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected fromthe group silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride andsilicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminumnitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
 264. A method for making aniridium electrode assembly for a retinal color prosthesis comprising thestep of constructing an iridium electrode assembly, further comprisingthe steps of depositing an aluminum pad on a silicon substrate, whichmay also support electronic circuitry; electroplating iridium onto afoil selected from the group consisting of platinum or iridium foil;sealing the area said foil covers hermetically by said foil, gluing saidfoil to said aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue; attaching,sputtering, plating, ion implanting, ion-beam assisted depositing (IBAD)a titanium ring, on to the platinum or iridium foil; adhering aninsulating layer to the titanium ring, where insulation material isselected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-likecoating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titaniumoxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconiumoxide.
 265. A method for making a titanium nitride electrode assemblyfor a retinal color prosthesis comprising the step of constructing atitanium electrode assembly, further comprising the steps of depositingan aluminum pad on a silicon substrate, which may also supportelectronic circuitry; electroplating titanium onto a foil selected fromthe group consisting of platinum foil or iridium foil; sealing the areasaid foil covers hermetically by said foil; gluing said foil to saidaluminum pad with electrically conductive glue; attaching, sputtering,plating, ion implanting or ion-beam-assisted depositing (IBAD) atitanium ring on to the platinum or iridium foil; adhering an insulatinglayer to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected fromthe group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, siliconnitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalumoxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
 266. Themethod as in claim 264 or claim 265 further comprising the step ofplating an aluminum layer onto the exposed part of the titanium ring andonto a material selected from a group consisting of silicon carbide,diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide andzirconium oxide, said aluminum layer acting as an electrical conductor.267. The method as in claim 265 further comprising the steps of formingsaid platinum electrode internal to a well formed by a substanceselected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-likecoating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titaniumoxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconiumoxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylenepropylene and waxes, and its titanium ring; fabricating said electrodewith its whole peak angle in the range from 1° to 120°; forming the baseof said conical or pyramidal electrode in the range from 1 μm to 500 μm;forming the linear section of the well unoccupied by said conical orpyramidal electrode in the range ranging from zero to one-third of thewhole linear section.
 268. The method as in claim 265 further comprisingthe steps of forming the platinum electrode with a mushroom-like shapewith a narrower stalk; constructing said electrode head with a largerplan view area than the well from which it arises.